Department for Transport

British Airways: Coronavirus

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of British Airways' proposed redundancies on Gatwick airport.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Department for Transport is working with airlines, airports and unions to understand the impact that COVID-19 is having on the sector and its workers. The Chancellor has set out unprecedented support for workers of airline companies. Measures such as the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme are being used across the aviation industry to protect the sector against the Covid-19 economic crisis. These measures, alongside other Government support measures such as Coronavirus Large Business Loan Interruption Scheme and the CCFF, are helping airlines of all sizes get through this crisis and beyond. The Chancellor has noted that under exceptional circumstances bespoke support could be provided to airlines.

Transport for London: Coronavirus

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the deaths of 28 bus drivers and other Transport for London front line staff from COVID-19; and what steps they are taking to ensure that bus companiesin the UK introduce protective measures similar to those now introduced by Transport for London.

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans are in place to ensure that (1) those public transport workers who die from COVID-19 are given public recognition, and (2) the families of those workers are given support similar to that provided for NHS workers’ families.

baroness vere of norbiton: We have been clear the safety of transport workers must remain a top priority, and employers must protect their staff in line with Public Health England advice. On the 12 May, the Government published guidance for transport operators to help keep their staff safe, including how social distancing rules should be interpreted to do this. This guidance will be kept up-to-date as restrictions on travel change. In the tragic circumstances where workers die with Covid-19, our thoughts are with their families and loved ones and employers should ensure they are appropriately recognised. The Government is working with the industry to ensure that all workers and the travelling public stay safe during this very difficult time.

Public Transport: Coronavirus

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that any plans to increase public transport after the COVID-19 pandemic are based on the needs of the entire country; and what steps they are taking to ensure that any such plans reflect regional differences in transport use, as well as differences between urban and rural use.

baroness vere of norbiton: Officials are working closely with the rail and bus industry on what a resumption of services would mean both nationally and for different regions of the country. The Department is taking account of Public Health England guidance, and are considering regional differences in all modelling. We will ensure that the transport sector continues to keep the whole of Britain moving once restrictions are lifted.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Tour Operators and Aviation

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to refusing to make furlough payments to all airline and travel operators who have refused to refund their customers for cancelled flights and holidays.

baroness vere of norbiton: Consumers whose travel plans are cancelled as a result of Covid-19 are entitled to a refund under existing legislation. Our support for the sector, including the furloughing of staff, should help to ensure that airline and travel operators are able to meet their legal obligations and that passengers will not lose out as a result of their cancelled flights and holidays.Whether a company has refunded its customers is not part of the eligibility test for participation in the furlough scheme.

Cycling and Walking: Coronavirus

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government what measures they intend to introduce to encourage children to walk or cycle to schoolfollowing the COVID-19 pandemic to reduce the number of cars on the road.

baroness vere of norbiton: The Government recognises that walking and cycling have great potential as a means of enabling people to move around safely while maintaining social distancing. Active travel can help to relieve pressures on public transport as well as delivering health benefits and reducing motor-vehicle congestion.On 9 May, the Government announced a £2bn package of funding for cycling and walking. This includes £250m which will encourage cycling to work and school through the provision of pop-up bike lanes with protected space for cycling, safer junctions as well as vouchers for cycle repairs and greater provision for bike fixing facilities. Further details on the allocation of this funding will be announced in due course.This will build on the Government’s investment of almost £3 million into the Walk to School programme since 2015 which aims to increase the number of children walking to school. For the schools involved in this programme in 2017-18, walking to school rates increased across all schools by 30 per cent, rising from 59.5 per cent at baseline to 77.2 per cent at follow up.In addition, the Conservative Manifesto made the commitment to extend Bikeability cycling proficiency training to every child in the country.

Ferries: Coronavirus

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure the safety of passengers and crew on ferries during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness vere of norbiton: Public Health England has published guidance advising on measures that everyone should be adopting to reduce the transmission of COVID-19. Additional advice was developed specifically for the maritime sector and this applies to all vessels including ferries. Additionally, the Department has been working with Public Health England and the public health bodies in the devolved administrations to engage with the industry and has supplemented the online guidance with a series of FAQs, expanding on specific issues raised by the sector. Furthermore, on Sunday 10 May, the Prime Minister outlined the Government’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions and informed the public, that if they unable to work from home, then they can now go back to work as long as appropriate measures are put in place to protect the health of all employers. The Department understands that the transport sector will be instrumental in getting people back to work and therefore on 12 May 2012, issued further guidance for both transport operators and passengers, including guidance in relation to workforce planning and protecting workers, social distancing measures and face coverings where social distancing may be difficult.

Tunnels: West Yorkshire

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to protect the Queensbury Tunnel for possible future use as a cycleway; and what is the current situation with regard to that tunnel.

baroness vere of norbiton: Highways England Contractors are now on site for planned safety works to prevent the Queensbury Tunnel from collapsing. Concurrently the Department is assessing the feasibility of the Queensbury Tunnel scheme based on safety and affordability.

Public Transport: Coronavirus

lord greaves: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to return provision of public transport broadly to levels that existed before the COVID-19 pandemic following the ending of restrictions on movement.

baroness vere of norbiton: The department has been working closely with transport operators and local partners to explore options for restoring public transport services. Is it clear that restoring services is challenging, for example due to the need to bring drivers out of furlough and equipment back online, and will therefore take time. We are working to ensure that services are ramped up over the coming weeks and are grateful for the work of transport workers and for their support.The guidance we published for the travelling public is clear that journeys on public transport should only be made if they are essential, and then only if walking, cycling or driving is not an option. Peak times should be avoided where possible.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the British Business Bank about the operation of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the Federation of Small Businesses about the operation of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with small businesses about the operation of the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme.

lord callanan: This Department continues to work closely with the British Business Bank on the design and implementation of the CBILS loan schemes. This includes discussions on monitoring the take-up of the loans across the UK. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy keeps in regular contact with each of the biggest CBILS lenders to monitor implementation to ensure that companies receive the full benefits of the support being provided. The Department maintains close contact with UK Business Representative Organisations (BROs) to understand where support is needed most for businesses across the economy during the Coronavirus outbreak. This engagement includes, but is not limited to, the Federation for Small Businesses, the Confederation of British Industry, the British Chambers of Commerce, MAKE UK - the Manufacturers Organisation, UK Finance, and the Institute of Directors. The Secretary of State and my Hon. Friend the Minister for Small Business conduct calls with a range of BROs to discuss feedback from businesses on government support measures; and additional calls have been initiated to announce developments to the suite of COVID19 business finance. The Minister for Small Business has attended and answered questions at 4 public webinars in April and May including one hosted by Merton Chambers of Commerce. All were joined by a large number of SMEs. This Department has hosted a series of free, live webinars for business and industry, week commencing 4 May, to help businesses understand the support available during the COVID19 outbreak. Over 4,000 attendees joined the 5 May webinar. Officials presented updates on the CBILS scheme and tax issues and answered questions online.The webinars included:Tuesday 5 May – loans for small businesses, tax deferralWednesday 6 May - COVID-19: Impacts and changes to International TradeThursday 7 May - Managing your business during coronavirus: reporting, regulations, and tax.

Horizon Europe

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in negotiations to continue the UK’s participation in the Horizon Europe research programme; and what the timetable is for reaching an agreement.

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they plan to expand UK Research and Innovation until 2025 in the event that no agreement is reached with the EU involving continued participation in Horizon Europe.

lord callanan: The Government is committed to ensuring the UK becomes a global science superpower and continues to collaborate with Europe on scientific research. My Rt. Hon. Friend the Prime Minister has made clear that the UK is ready to consider a relationship in line with non-EU Member State participation in Horizon Europe, provided that this represents value for money and is in the UK’s interest. Any agreements relating to Union programmes should contain fair terms for UK participation. This should include fair treatment of participants, a fair and appropriate financial contribution, provisions allowing for sound financial management by both parties, and appropriate governance and consultation. I refer the Noble Lord to a Written Ministerial Statement made by my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster on 28 April (HCWS209), which set out that UK and EU discussions took place across all workstreams including on EU Programmes. As a responsible government, we are also developing alternative schemes to support international research and innovation collaboration. This includes options which can address immediate needs and work through to any future funding scenario. In the Budget, my Rt. Hon. Friend Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer announced that government investment in R&D will increase to £22bn by 2024/25, the biggest ever absolute increase. The increase in investment in R&D will include funding for any continued participation in EU research and innovation Programmes or EU replacement schemes.

Private Sector: Coronavirus

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government how they are seeking to encourage the holding of meetings remotely in the private sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: With the exception of the organisations covered in the Government guidance on closing non-essential shops and public spaces, the Government has not required any other businesses to close and indeed, it is important for business to carry on where this is possible. Businesses and workplaces should make every possible effort to enable working from home as a first option. Employers and employees should discuss their working arrangements, and employers should take every possible step to facilitate their employees working from home, including providing suitable IT and equipment to enable remote working. Where working from home is not possible, employers should follow Government guidance on working safely, including consulting with workers and trade union representatives.It is the responsibility of companies and organisations to develop working practices in line with Government guidance and employers who have people in their offices or onsite should ensure that employees are able to follow Public Health England guidelines. The Government, in consultation with industry, has published new guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These guides cover a range of working environments and are available at www.gov.uk/workingsafely.

Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of EU State Aid rules on large charity retailers seeking support through the Retail, Hospitality and Leisure Grant Fund.

lord callanan: Although the UK has left the EU, under the terms of the Withdrawal Agreement, the EU State Aid rules continue to apply in the UK until the end of the Transition Period. As a result of the Coronavirus pandemic, the European Commission has introduced some welcome flexibilities into the rules to deal with the impacts of the Coronavirus, in the form of a Temporary Framework. This facilitates aid going to the businesses who need it most, quickly and more efficiently. A business can receive up to EUR 800,000 of Temporary Framework aid. Other support can be given under the normal de minimis rules. These allow up to EUR 200,000 to be given to a business in a three-year period. De minimis aid can be received in addition to Temporary Framework aid.The Retail, Hospitality & Leisure Grant Fund is under the provisions of the Temporary Framework. A grant for a specific shop would come out of a charity’s €800,000 allowance if that charity were considered to control that retail shop. A case by case analysis of each charity retailer’s company structure and activities would be necessary to determine this. The number of shops each charity would be considered to control boils down to whether it exercises sufficient control (either legally or factually) over shops such that they ought to be considered for state aid purposes to be one organisation. The combination of these and other measures constitute an unprecedented programme of Government support for business to address the impacts of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Aviation and Manufacturing Industries: Coronavirus

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the (1) aerospace, (2) aviation, and (3) automotive industries in the UK.

lord callanan: We are supporting the aerospace industry through the Aerospace Growth Partnership (AGP) with £1.95 billion of funding for research and development (R&D), matched by industry, over 13 years up to 2026. UK Research & Innovation (UKRI) is also providing £125 million to the Future Flight Challenge for research on greener ways of flying through advances in electric and autonomous flight technology, which is expected to generate an additional £175 million of match-funding from industry. We are also co-investing in aerospace productivity improvement and innovation programmes to support small and medium-sized businesses backed with over £135 million of public funding. In addition, aerospace companies are currently drawing upon the unprecedented £330 billion package of additional COVID-19 business support measures that the Government has put in place. We are in discussion with the sector, through the AGP, about how to best support the industry to recover. Aviation is also an important sector for the UK’s economy, and businesses across the industry will also be able to draw on our package of economic measures. This includes a Bank of England scheme for firms to raise capital, two business interruption loan guarantee schemes for businesses of all sizes, Time to Pay flexibilities with tax bills, financial support for employees, and VAT deferrals. If businesses across these sectors face severe and urgent financial difficulties due to COVID-19 following the Government’s cross-economy wage and financial interventions, we remain open to discussions about bespoke financial support as a last resort. Any intervention would need to protect the interests of taxpayers. Requests may be made formally, in writing, to the Business Secretary. Furthermore, the Government has a long-standing programme of support to maintain the competitiveness of the UK automotive sector. Through our landmark Automotive Sector Deal, we have secured joint investment and long-term commitments to develop world-leading battery technologies, positioning the UK as the location of choice for the development and deployment of connected and autonomous vehicle technologies. The Government, alongside industry, has jointly committed almost £1.5 billion through the Advanced Propulsion Centre and Faraday Battery Challenge to research, develop, and commercialise low-carbon automotive innovations. In October last year, we announced up to £1 billion of new money to support R&D to support electric vehicle manufacture.

Staff: Coronavirus

baroness lawrence of clarendon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with trade unions about identifying staff at greatest risk of contracting COVID-19 and re-assigning the duties of such staff.

lord callanan: We recognise that some workers will be anxious about returning to work and understand that all employees should feel safe. The Government has stated that vulnerable people who are at increased risk of severe illness from coronavirus (COVID-19) need to be particularly stringent in following social distancing measures. Members of staff who are vulnerable or extremely vulnerable, as well as individuals whom they live with, should be supported by their employers as they follow the required social distancing and shielding measures. It’s critical that employers offer safe workplaces. The Government has published new guidance to help ensure workplaces are as safe as possible during the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. These guides cover a range of working environments and are available at www.gov.uk/workingsafely. This guidance has been developed by the Department for Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with input from firms, unions, industry bodies and the devolved administrations in Northern Ireland, Wales and Scotland, and in consultation with Public Health England (PHE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Our continued engagement with the trade unions provides a useful insight into the information and best practice that might support us in ensuring that businesses can reopen whilst adhering to the social distancing guidelines.

Charities: Coronavirus

baroness sheehan: To ask Her Majesty's Government whethercharities based in the UK whichadvocate for street children are include in the support being offered to small and medium enterprises during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: A £750 million funding package announced on 8 April is aimed at charities who provide frontline services to vulnerable people affected by the pandemic in the UK. The Government funding will be allocated based on evidence of service need. There are three tranches of money;£360m from individual government departments to charities in England based on evidence of service need;£370m for small and medium-sized charities (£60m through the Devolved Administrations) will provide support for thousands of charities on the frontline of helping vulnerable people affected by Covid-19.Match funding of the, so far, £35m raised during the BBC’s Big Night In. The first £20m of this will go to the National Emergencies Trust and the remaining will go through the BBC charities who will be administering this funding.The Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government is providing £6 million of emergency funding to homelessness charities directly affected by the coronavirus. The funding will be distributed to local frontline homelessness services via the charity Homeless Link and will support organisations at risk of having to cut services and staff or cease operations due to the pandemic. Applications are now open via the Homeless Link website. Charities are also eligible for support under the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme (CBILS). CBILS provides businesses with annual turnover of under £45m with access to working capital of up to £5m. It supports a wide range of business finance products, including term loans, overdrafts, invoice finance and asset finance facilities. Since Monday 27 April, registered charities have been exempted from the requirement that the applicant derives at least 50% of its income from trading activity.Charities are also eligible for the Bounce Back Loan Scheme (BBLS), which launched on Monday 4 May and supports the smallest SMEs by providing loans from £2,000 up to 25% of the business’ turnover with a maximum loan size of £50,000. By providing lenders with a 100% government-backed guarantee and standardising the application form, businesses and charities applying for these loans could receive them within days.Further details on CBILS and BBLS can be found on GOV.UK or the British Business Bank website.On 1 May, my Rt. Hon. Friend the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy announced that a further up to £617 million is being made available to Local Authorities in England to allow them to provide discretionary grants. It is the Government’s intention that charity properties in receipt of charitable business rates relief should be considered as one of the priority businesses for these funds.Any enquiries regarding eligibility for, or provision of the Small Business Grant Fund should be directed to the relevant local authority.These schemes are part of a wider package of measures designed to support small businesses and charities facing difficulties in this period of uncertainty, which for charities could include, for example, the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, the Tax Deferral scheme, a temporary freeze on evictions and the Self-Employed Income Support Scheme.

Employment: Females

baroness goudie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of any disproportionate adverse effect on women in the labour market resulting from COVID-19.

lord callanan: Government is actively monitoring the impact of Covid-19 on the labour market, including the impact on women and on other groups. However, it is too early to draw any firm conclusions. The next ONS labour market statistics will be released on 19th May, covering the 3 month period up to the end of March. Analysis of this and other data will provide an indication of early impacts of covid-19 on the labour market.

Foreign Investment in UK: Coronavirus

lord maginnis of drumglass: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that trade and business resources in the UK are not exploited by foreign businesses, in particular businesses based in China, during any economic depression resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: The Government continues to monitor the market closely during the Covid-19 pandemic and will take steps, as necessary, to ensure that UK businesses are not exploited. The Government has existing powers, under the Enterprise Act 2002, to intervene in mergers and takeovers under three public interest considerations - national security, financial stability, and media plurality. In December 2019, the Queen’s Speech lobby pack confirmed the Government’s intention to legislate to “strengthen the Government’s existing powers to scrutinise and intervene in business transactions to protect national security”.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to mandate that all company accountsmust include (1) the amount of taxpayer loans received, (2) the amount received through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, and (3) how many employees were made redundant, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord callanan: Annual company accounts are prepared and filed on the basis of material items and in line with accounting standards governed by the Companies Act 2006. As part of this, companies are required to make disclosure on all matters that will enable their shareholders to gain a proper understanding of the company’s assets, liabilities and shareholder equity. In order to help companies ensure accounts give a true and fair view, the law allows companies to provide additional information where this is material. At the present time we have no plans to change the requirements in relation to the Covid-19 pandemic. The Government wishes to avoid placing additional burdens on management at a time when their focus should be on maintaining the well-being of their businesses and employees. Directors will be required to record items material to the company’s finances within their accounts. This would include any Covid-19 financial support measures that are material to the company’s finances.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Israel: Palestinians

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential for the government of the United States’ proposals for peace in Israel and Palestine to result in the government of Israel revoking Palestinian people’s citizenship and swapping populated land.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: A peace agreement between Israelis and Palestinians that leads to peaceful coexistence could unlock the potential for the entire region, and provide both sides with the opportunity for a brighter future. Only the leaders of Israel and the Palestinians can determine whether US proposals can meet the needs and aspirations of the people they represent. But we encourage them to give these plans genuine and fair consideration, and explore whether they might prove a first step on the road back to negotiations. The UK would strongly oppose any unilateral action by either party. The UK position is clear: any unilateral moves towards annexation of parts of the West Bank by Israel would be damaging to efforts to restart peace negotiations and contrary to international law.

West Bank: Demolition

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Israel about demolition and stop-work orders being posted on Palestinian properties in Qarawat Bani Hassan during the COVID-19 lockdown.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is seriously concerned by the continued demolition of Palestinian property by Israeli authorities, which is contrary to International Humanitarian Law. During this fragile period we call on both parties to avoid any provocative action, which might undermine the cooperation that is so critical.

South China Sea

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of (1) Vietnam, (2) The Philippines, (3) Malaysia, (4) Indonesia, (5) Brunei, and (6) other nations, about the government of China’s territorial claims in the South China Sea.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The position of Her Majesty's Government is to oppose any activity which raises tensions or seeks to alter the facts on the ground in the South China Sea. We take no position on sovereignty disputes in the South China Sea and encourage all parties to settle their disputes peacefully through the existing legal mechanisms, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). We have frequent discussions with Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei and several other nations on the South China Sea, including as part of high-level political dialogues. Officials have raised our concerns about recent incidents in the South China Sea, including the creation of new administrative territories, with Chinese authorities.China is a party to UNCLOS and ratified it in 1996. The UK challenges China where their interpretation differs from ours. For example, the UK has objected to China's claims based on "historic rights" in the South China Seas on the basis that such claims are not founded in law, insofar as it would be inconsistent with international law as reflected in UNCLOS.The UK's position with regard to the classification of maritime features is that States may classify as islands those features which meet the definition of islands in Article 121(1) of UNCLOS. The UK's position is also that, as provided in Article 121(3) of UNCLOS, rocks which cannot sustain human habitation or economic life of their own shall have no exclusive economic zone or continental shelf. In addition, the UK's position is that under UNCLOS, low tide elevations which are situated beyond the breadth of the territorial sea from the mainland or an island, are not entitled to a territorial sea, and cannot be appropriated by any State.

Iran: Prisoners

baroness northover: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Iran about the release of (1) prisoners of conscience and (2) dual nationality prisoners.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We have regularly expressed our concerns to the Government of Iran at the ongoing incarceration of prisoners of conscience, including the sentencing of Christians for practicing their faith. The reality is that many non-Muslims in Iran face discrimination. We will continue to take action, both bilaterally and with the international community, to press Iran to improve its poor human rights record.The permanent release of all arbitrarily detained dual nationals in Iran and their return to their families in the UK remains our top priority We continue to raise this at all appropriate levels with Iran - the Foreign Secretary raised it with Foreign Minister Zarif on 16 March and our Ambassador to Iran has consistently raised it with the Iranian Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Syria: Armed Conflict

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of reports of serious fighting in Ras al-Ain, Syria, between two militias aligned with Turkey on 22 April; what steps they are taking to prevent similar violence;and whether such steps include the use of verifiable ceasefires.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We are aware of reports of renewed violence in Ras al-Ain, Syria, including on 22 April. Implementation of the ceasefire agreements in north-east Syria is the responsibility of the parties to those agreements but we have made clear our expectation that all sides abide by the agreed ceasefire and by their obligations under international humanitarian law.

Coronavirus: Inquiries

the marquess of lothian: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress has been made towards the establishment of an independent international investigation into the origin of the COVID-19pandemic.

baroness sugg: The UK has always been clear that, at the right time, there will need to be a full and independent review into the pandemic. Our immediate focus remains stopping the spread of the virus through international action. The World Health Assembly resolution on COVID-19, which the UK is co-sponsoring, calls on the WHO to initiate an independent and comprehensive evaluation. This will be an important step in learning the lessons of this pandemic.

Turkey: Coronavirus

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the government of Turkey about the steps it is taking to protect (1) prisoners awaiting trial, and (2) those convicted of political offences, from contracting COVID-19.

baroness sugg: We speak regularly to Turkey about our concerns relating to the risks posed by COVID-19 in Turkey. Ministers and our Ambassador to Turkey continue to engage the Turkish Government on Covid risks and future work to tackle the disease.We support the call made by the UN Secretary-General in his message of 22 April that human rights must be at the front and centre of the COVID-19 response and recovery. We continue to be clear in our expectation that Turkey, like all countries, should live up to its human rights obligations towards all its citizens. We support all efforts by the UN to minimise long-term damage to global economies, societies, politics and freedoms.

Gulf States: Overseas Aid

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how much was (1) allocated to, and (2) spent by, the Gulf Integrated Activity Fund in the (a) 2016–17, (b) 2017–18, (c) 2018–19, and (d) 2019–20, financial years.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Integrated Activity Fund was allocated £20m each year from 2016/17 to 2019/20. Actual expenditure was £10.5m in 2016/17, £13.9m in 2017/18, £17.08m in 2018/19 and is estimated to be £12.5m in 2019/20.

Gulf States: Overseas Aid

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government which Government departments applied to the Integrated Activity Fund for funding during the 2019–20 financial year; and which of those applications were granted.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The Crown Prosecution Service, Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs/Centre for Environment, Fisheries and Aquaculture Science, Department for International Trade, Department of Health/Public Health England, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, HM Revenue and Customs, Home Office and the National Economic Crime Centre in the National Crime Agency all successfully applied for Integrated Activity Funding in 2019/20.

European Central Bank

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the effects on UK–EU relations of the decision taken on 5 May by the German Constitutional Court that the European Central Bank’s mass bond buying partly violates the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.

baroness sugg: The decision taken by the Federal Constitutional Court is a matter for Germany, the European Central Bank and the EU. Negotiations between the UK and EU over our future relationship are ongoing: the third round of negotiations is taking place this week. The UK remains committed to a relationship with our European friends inspired by our shared history and values.

Turkey: Religious Freedom

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the religious freedoms of British (1) Jews, and (2) Christians, who are resident in Turkey.

baroness sugg: The Turkish constitution provides for freedom of conscience and religion, regardless of an individual's citizenship. We regularly discuss these issues and will continue to engage the Turkish Government at all levels to urge respect for Freedom of Religion or Belief, which are essential to the long-term health of Turkish democracy. Defending persecuted Christians, and persecuted individuals of all faiths or beliefs, remains a long-standing priority for the British Government.

Nigeria: Abduction

baroness anelay of st johns: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they have made recently to the government of Nigeria on behalf of Leah Sharibu and other Christian and Muslim girls who have been kidnapped by Boko Haram.

baroness sugg: We condemn the appalling abduction and continued captivity of Leah Sharibu and other Christian and Muslim girls by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA). The UK has repeatedly called for their release and remains committed to supporting the Nigerian Government in their efforts to achieve this. The Prime Minister discussed UK support to fighting terrorism in Nigeria with President Buhari at the UK Africa Investment Summit in January. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief met Leah's mother in February to express the UK's continued commitment to help Nigeria secure the release of all abductees.We will continue to engage with the Government of Nigeria in support of urgent action to secure the return of all abductees.

Leah Sharibu

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 11 February (HL833), what further steps they have taken to secure the release of Leah Sharibu.

baroness sugg: We condemn the appalling abduction and continued captivity of Leah Sharibu and other Christian and Muslim girls by Boko Haram and Islamic State West Africa (ISWA). The Prime Minister discussed UK support for fighting terrorism in Nigeria with President Buhari at the UK Africa Investment Summit in January. The Prime Minister's Special Envoy for Freedom of Religion or Belief met Leah's mother in February to express the UK's continued commitment to supporting the Government of Nigeria to secure the release of Leah and all abductees.

Department of Health and Social Care

Protective Clothing: Exports

lord alton of liverpool: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of (1) the application developed by Doctors Association UK about problems with personal protection equipment (PPE); and (2) reports that PPE is being shipped from the UK to Germany, Spain, and Italy, because UK companies claim that offers of help have not been pursued.

lord bethell: We are working around the clock to give the social care sector and wider National Health Service the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak.Sourcing sufficient supplies of personal protective equipment is a challenge that many countries are facing. We are working to expand supply from overseas, improve domestic manufacturing capability and expand and improve the logistics network for delivering to the front line.The full weight of the Government is behind this effort and we are working closely with industry, social care providers, the NHS, and the army to ensure the right equipment continues to be delivered.

Protective Clothing: Procurement

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plansthey haveto use international procurement arrangements for the provision of personal protective equipment at the end of the EU withdrawal transition period.

lord bethell: We have set up a cross-Government personal protective equipment (PPE) sourcing unit to secure new supply lines from across the world and published rigorous standards against which we will buy.Expert procurement professionals from the NHS Supply Chain have been seconded into this dedicated new unit to work with a cross-Government team of over 400 staff from the Government Commercial Function. This unit is identifying PPE suppliers from across the globe to meet the increasing demand for a growing list of PPE products.

Wuhan Institute of Virology: Coronavirus

lord jopling: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role played, if any, by the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the spread of COVID-19. [T]

lord bethell: The Department has made no assessment of the role played, if any, by the Wuhan Institute of Virology in the spread of COVID-19.

Coronavirus: Screening

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of drive-in COVID-19 testing sites in England are operated by (1) the NHS directly and (2)private contractors; what percentage of testsfor each such site involves (1) swabbing of the nose and throat by trained staff, or (2) instructions being given in writing or verbally for participants to swab themselves; and what data is available on the relative accuracy of the two forms of test. [T]

lord bethell: Regional Test Sites are overseen by the Department as part of the COVID-19 National Testing Programme. These sites have been commissioned by the Department and operated by a range of commercial organisations. As of 29 April, 43 regional tests were open across the United Kingdom. Of these, 11 deliver assisted testing, 14 sites operate the self-administered approach and 18 operate a hybrid model where both options are offered.The test is reliable and effective. There are different tests in use under this programme and all have been assessed as performing to manufacturers specifications before being used.

NHS: Protective Clothing

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the NHS participated in the initiative co-ordinated by the Lancashire Resilience Forum to purchase PPE supplies; and if not, why not.

lord bethell: On 27 March, Lancashire Resilience Forum started a process of purchasing personal protective equipment outside of the Government’s delivery scheme. NHS Blackburn with Darwen Clinical Commissioning Group and NHS East Lancashire Clinical Commissioning Group are all local partners which have been involved in these purchases.

North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust: Protective Clothing

lord hoyle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the North West Ambulance Service NHS Trust have access to sufficient PPE so that all drivers have the quantities they require when attending call-outs.

lord bethell: We are working around the clock to give the social care sector and wider National Health Service the equipment and support they need to tackle this outbreak. We have delivered over 1 billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE) across the health and social care system within England.The full weight of the Government is behind this effort and we are working closely with industry, social care providers, the NHS, and the armed forces to ensure the right equipment continues to be delivered.The United Kingdom Government and devolved administrations have published clear guidance on the recommended PPE for different types of ambulance staff.

Hospitals: Protective Clothing

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of NHS hospitals that are not giving personal protection equipment fit tests to staff.

lord bethell: The National Medical Director and Chief Nursing Officer of NHS England and NHS Improvement wrote to National Health Service Chief Executives, Chief Nurses and Medical Directors, emphasising the importance of proper fit testing of disposable sessional personal protective equipment (PPE) face masks (such as FFP3 masks).The United Kingdom Government and devolved administrations have published clear guidance on appropriate PPE for health and social care workers. It is critical that health and care workers make themselves aware of and follow these procedures, so they do not risk exposing themselves to COVID-19 as they remove PPE.

Coronavirus: Medical Equipment

lord wigley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what representations they received from the Welsh Government concerning the possible redirection of a contract placed by the NHS in Wales with the Roche company, for equipment relevant to the coronavirus pandemic, for use by the NHS in England; andwhat is their policy relating to such matters.

lord bethell: The response to COVID-19 is a national effort and we are committed to working closely with the devolved administrations to align and coordinate testing efforts, where possible. This includes ensuring Wales receives its fair share of proprietary test kits.In March 2020, Roche Diagnostics UK approached the United Kingdom Government to advise that it had a newly licensed COVID-19 polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, which would shortly be available for use in the UK. Initial weekly test availability was 35,000 for the United Kingdom. Public Health England was commissioned by the UK Government to establish a public-private partnership with Roche to deliver this and it was agreed that it would be a UK-wide solution. This new and additional capability has enabled Wales to deliver over 28,000 PCR tests.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether garden centres, gardens and public spaces are important for mental health, and whether they plan to prioritise the re-opening of such spaces when restrictions in place to address COVID-19 are being lifted.

lord bethell: The benefits of being outside are noted in the Government’s Guidance for the public on mental health and wellbeing aspects of coronavirus (COVID-19) which is available in an online only format on GOV.UK. On 18 April, the Secretary of State for Housing, Communities and Local Government (Rt. Hon. Robert Jenrick MP) said in his statement on COVID-19 that parks must remain open and people should be able to safely enjoy fresh air and green space.On 13 May, we confirmed that garden centres could reopen. Our decision to reopen garden centres and nurseries in a safe way, will allow businesses to sell their products directly to the public and in doing so bringing about wider benefits to consumers, especially for physical and mental wellbeing, which gardening can bring.

Care Homes: Coronavirus

lord scriven: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many COVID-19 tests (1) in total, and (2) in each NHS region, were carried out in care and nursing homes in each week from 1 March to 27 April.

lord bethell: Public Health England estimate that since that start of the pandemic their initial confirmation of outbreaks has seen over 57,000 care home residents tested. Additional testing has taken place at local level and through Pillar 2 testing programme, around 73,842 tests have been processed for both staff and residents as of 13 May. Data on the tests carried out by National Health Service region is not currently available or published in the format requested.

Coronavirus: Disease Control

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the amount of time that a person who has recovered from COVID-19 is able to carry the virus; and what consideration they have given to a putting in place a mandatory quarantine period post-recovery.

lord bethell: In the case of COVID-19, infection is most commonly detected by using a reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR); a test that detects viral genetic material (in this case, ribonucleic acid; RNA). The detection of viral RNA alone does not necessarily indicate an active virus infection.Evidence shows virus can be cultured from upper respiratory tract samples for about eight days after the onset of symptoms.Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection recommends that individuals remain at home for seven days after the onset of symptoms. If a person still has a high temperature, they should keep self-isolating until their temperature returns to normal. If the individual lives with others, all other household members who remain well must stay at home and not leave the house for 14 days. The 14-day period starts from the day when the first person in the house became ill. Stay at home: guidance for households with possible coronavirus (COVID-19) infection was first published on 12 March in an online only format on GOV.UK.The Government is reviewing the guidance on the duration of the self-isolation period.

Coronavirus: Screening

baroness thornton: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many COVID-19 home tests returned to them were not viable owing to difficulties in collecting a sample of the virus when self-swabbing.

lord bethell: International peer reviewed evidence, as well as the National Testing Programme’s experience, is that void rates for self-administered tests are of a similar level to clinician-administered tests. The best international evidence, as well as the Programme’s internal data, are kept under constant review, and significant resource has been deployed to ensuring that the instructions for self-administration are clear and easy to follow.

Coronavirus: Screening

baroness andrews: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many home testing kits for COVID-19 have been (1) returned in an untestable state and (2) not returned.

lord bethell: The ratio of Home Test Kits being returned to the labs which are untestable is in line with the ratio of clinician-administered tests from other sources that are returned to the labs and untestable. The majority of Home Test Kits are returned, and the ratio of Kits being returned is on an upward trajectory.

Coronavirus: Screening

baroness andrews: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to prioritise different groups in society as the COVID-19 testing programme expands and the lockdown begins to be lifted and, in particular, whether ethnicity will be a factor in prioritisation.

lord bethell: We have rapidly expanded our testing capacity. Further increases are a top priority for the Government, and our overall ambition is to ensure that everyone who needs a test can get one.As capacity continues to increase, we will consider when we are able to expand eligibility to other groups and the order of prioritisation both between and within groups. Our decisions will continue to be guided by the science and will take account of Public Sector Equality Duties.

Coronavirus: Mental Health

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) monitor and (2) treat the impact of the lockdown on children's mental health.

lord bethell: The Government and NHS England recognise that the mental health impacts of the COVID-19 outbreak are significant and are working closely with mental health trusts to ensure those who need them, including children, have access to National Health Service mental health services. NHS mental health services have remained open for business throughout this time, including delivering support digitally and over the phone where possible.We have also issued guidance for parents and carers on supporting children and young people’s mental health and wellbeing during the COVID-19 outbreak, and we have provided £5 million of additional funding for mental health charities to support adults and children.NHS England also asked mental health trusts to review advice lines to ensure 24 hours a day, seven days a week advice is available to everyone, including children and young people, through a single point of access.

Hospitals: Coronavirus

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many NHS patients have been treated in independent sector hospitals since the declaration of a Level 4 National incident on 30 January, compared with the same period last year.

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what the total cost to the taxpayer has been of NHS patients treated in independent sector hospitals, including the cost of independent sector hospitals being available for the treatment of NHS patients, since the declaration of a Level 4 National incident on 30 January, compared with the same period last year.

lord rosser: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the maximum number of beds (1) available for use, and (2) used, by NHS patients in independent sector hospitals on any one day since the declaration of a Level 4 National incident on 30 January.

lord bethell: It is not possible to provide the data requested.

NHS 111: Training

baroness andrews: To ask Her Majesty's Government what percentage of NHS 111 call handlers are medically trained; whether thetriaging systemis reviewed regularly; and if not, what plans they have to implement regular reviews.

lord bethell: The NHS 111 service available across England is staffed by fully trained Health Advisors who are appropriately, safely and timely advised by the NHS Pathways triage tool. This tool assists NHS 111 Health Advisors in appropriately transferring patients to range of clinical professionals via the Clinical Assessment Service.The licensing requirements for NHS Pathways specify that Health Advisors should receive 10 weeks of training, comprising a mixture of learning, supervised and consolidated practice, to ensure that staff have a strong understanding and experience of the types of calls they may receive. Additionally, licensing requirements outline that sufficient numbers of clinicians must be available to provide full supervision to the number of Health Advisors on a particular shift.We are continuously looking for ways to improve NHS 111 services and are committed to providing the best possible care for those who need it. The most recent inspection by the Care Quality Commission of all NHS 111 providers found that the minimum levels of quality were attained across providers to provide effective treatment.

Hospitals: Ministers of Religion

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the contribution of NHS hospital chaplains during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: We have not made a formal assessment of the contribution of National Health Service chaplains during the COVID-19 pandemic. NHS England and NHS Improvement recognise the importance of chaplains, and leaders of all faiths, in the delivery of high-quality palliative and end of life care. The significant role they play in spiritual, emotional and psychological care is recognised in our clinical guides for palliative care in hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic and for compassionate visiting arrangements.

Coronavirus: International Cooperation

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the governments of (1) Germany, (2) New Zealand, and (3) South Korea, to exchange information relating to dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic; and what lessons they have learned from such discussions.

lord bethell: The Department is regularly in discussions with other countries on a wide range of issues of issues relating to COVID-19, including Germany, New Zealand and South Korea.COVID-19 presents a global challenge which requires a collaborative response. The Department will continue to work with other countries throughout the crisis and beyond.

NHS: Computer Software

lord falconer of thoroton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they made of the benefits of using a (1) centralised, and (2) decentralised, model for the COVID-19 contact tracing application; which of those benefits they plan to realise from the model in use; and what plans they have, if any, to change the model should those benefits not be realised.

lord bethell: Our priority has been to maximise the public health value of the app to save lives, while preserving privacy. We have gone for a centralised model because it provides the most flexibility from an epidemiological and disease management point of view.Our centralised approach for the app gives the National Health Service a clear picture of which phones have been in close contact with each other. The model allows us more flexibility in how we decide to notify users and will help us give the most accurate advice to individuals. This flexibility will help to better spot false alarms and unnecessary alerts asking people to self-isolate.We continue to work with Apple and Google to deliver the NHS COVID-19 app. The app will continue to evolve as our understanding of the virus increases and we will continue to revisit our design decisions as that understanding grows and we move to a national roll out.

NHS: Computer Software

lord falconer of thoroton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to publish (1) adata protection impact assessment, (2) a privacy impact assessment, (3) advice received from the Information Commissioner, and (4) advice received from the ethics committee chaired by Professor Sir Jonathan Montgomery, for the COVID-19 contact tracing application; and if so, when.

lord bethell: We have prioritised security and privacy at all stages of the National Health Service COVID-19 app’s development. An initial Data Protection Impact Assessment and a privacy notice have already been published on 7 May and, to ensure ongoing transparency, these will be updated as the app develops. A member of the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) staff has been working alongside the NHSX team since 23 March and the ICO’s most recent thinking on this matter is published and updated frequently on their website. The Ethics Advisory Board of the NHS COVID-19 app has published a letter to the Secretary of State summarising its advice in relation to the COVID-19 application. A copy of the letter is attached.



EAB_Letter_to_NHSX
(PDF Document, 194.02 KB)

NHS: Computer Software

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with the organisers of the King's College London and ZOE COVID-19 symptom tracking application about the provision of financial support.

lord bethell: Whilst NHSX has been approached by a number of symptom trackers and products with regards to funding we do not fund products in this space. Any trackers that we do work with are providing their data for free through project OASIS, a project between NHSX and the jHub.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

baroness ritchie of downpatrick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what progress they have made in the development of a vaccine for COVID-19 and the UK capability to manufacture it.

lord bethell: The development of a COVID-19 vaccine is at the early stages but progressing rapidly. The Government is backing two promising vaccine candidates at the University of Oxford and Imperial College, London. We are making over £45 million available to fund these teams, on top of the £250 million we have pledged to the international effort to find a vaccine – the largest international contribution of any country.The Vaccines Taskforce is working with the BioIndustry Association Taskforce to review existing domestic capability to manufacture vaccines, in response to COVID-19. The Taskforce is also reviewing options for increasing this capacity. This includes a review of how the Government can support the acceleration and expand the capacity of the Vaccines Manufacturing and Innovation Centre, so that it becomes operational earlier than planned and is able to manufacture population level doses.

Blood: Donors

lord smith of finsbury: To ask Her Majesty's Government why a ban on accepting blood plasma for the COVID-19 convalescent plasma trial from gay and bisexual men has been put in place; and whether they will consider the use of individual risk assessments for this purpose instead of blanket exclusion.

lord bethell: No individual is excluded from giving blood, platelets or plasma based on sexual orientation. However, all men must wait three months after having sexual contact with another man before donating. This is based on expert advice from the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs.The three-month deferral period is to reduce the risk of any very recently acquired infections not being detected on screening and further tests. For that reason, the current donor selection guidelines remain in place for the convalescent plasma donation programme.The Equality Act 2010 states that blood services do not contravene anti-discrimination legislation by excluding people from donating blood as long as this exclusion or deferral is based on a reasonable and reliable assessment of risk to the public.We recognise that people want to be considered as individuals as much as possible. Separately to the convalescent plasma trial, NHS Blood and Transplant is already working collaboratively with LGBT+ groups on blood donation, through the FAIR (For Assessment of Individualised Risk) steering group. The FAIR group is using an evidence-based approach to explore if a more individualised blood donation risk assessment can be safely and practically introduced, while ensuring the safe supply of blood to patients.

Coronavirus: Vaccination

baroness crawley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to (1) prepare for, and (2) administer, a comprehensive national COVID-19 vaccine programme.

lord bethell: The Government has established a Vaccines Taskforce to coordinate and accelerate work across Government, academia and industry to develop, manufacture and deliver a COVID-19 vaccine.The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is an independent Departmental Expert Committee and a statutory body, which advises the United Kingdom health departments on immunisation for the prevention of infections and or disease. We are seeking advice from the JCVI on priority groups for vaccination, and on options for the introduction of any licensed COVID-19 vaccine in the UK.We are working with partners internationally and in the UK, including Public Health England and NHS England and NHS Improvement, to develop and implement plans for the procurement and delivery of a safe and effective vaccine as quickly and effectively as possible to those who need it across the UK.

Incontinence: Medical Equipment

baroness masham of ilton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that clinicians continue to have the right to prescribe any urinary incontinence product listed on Part IX of the Drug Tariff which they consider is the most appropriate for their patient.

lord bethell: Decisions about policy on the provision of medical products available from Part IX of the Drug Tariff, including urinary incontinence products, are a matter for local clinical commissioning groups and National Health Service trusts, taking account of the needs of their local populations and national guidance. Clinicians are expected to prescribe products that meet their patients’ clinical needs taking account of local commissioning policies as appropriate.The Drug Tariff does not apply to NHS trusts who are responsible for selecting the products they wish to use locally.

Clinical Trials: EU Countries

lord sharkey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they have taken to ensure UK–EU clinical trials can continue after the end of the transition period, and once the EU Clinical Trial Regulation (Regulation (EU) No 536/2014) comes into effect.

lord bethell: The Government is committed to a world-leading regulatory system for clinical trials that allows us to collaborate effectively globally, ensuring the United Kingdom remains one of the best places in the world for science and innovation. At the end of the transition period, clinical trials will continue to be approved at a national level, working to international standards as they are now. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), along with partners across the UK healthcare ecosystem, has taken steps to ensure that all trials including multinational trials can continue seamlessly.The MHRA, Health Research Authority, ethics services, National Institute for Health Research, National Health Service and devolved administrations have been preparing to implement the forthcoming European Union Clinical Trials Regulation since it was agreed in 2014. The UK will implement those aspects of the regulation which are in the best interests of UK patients, industry, non-commercial researchers and hospitals when it comes into force and this is currently expected during 2022.

NHS: Computer Software

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government, with respect to the trial on the Isle of Wight of the COVID-19 contact tracing application being developed by NHSX, (1) what questions the trial is designed to answer, and (2) whether those questions were discussed with and agreed in advance by NHSX’s Ethics Advisory Board.

lord bethell: The Isle of Wight phase is intended to improve our understanding of how the different components of our COVID-19 response fit together and how parts of the healthcare system interact with each other. It is also an opportunity to test that the underlying technologies and systems work. Our evaluation of the Isle of Wight phase is designed to provide us with answers on the health behaviours of people who use the app and those who do not, the attitude of individuals to the contact tracing app and their experience of using it, how successfully the app fits in to the wider health service processes, and the app’s influence on wider health seeking behaviours. The Ethics Advisory Board is an advisory body and does not approve documentation. Notwithstanding, and in the interests of transparency, an early version of our evaluation questions was shared with them for advice and constructive challenge.

NHS: Computer Software

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what conclusions the NHSX Ethics Advisory Board reached about the COVID-19 contact tracing application trial on the Isle of Wight.

lord bethell: The Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) of the National Health Service COVID-19 app published a letter to the Secretary of State on 24 April which sets out its thinking on the COVID-19 contact tracing application.In its letter, the EAB sets out six principles that must be upheld to ensure the NHS COVID-19 app achieves that balance. Given the importance of securing and maintaining public trust around this issue, these principles are based around maintaining public trust in the use of data; they include ensuring value, impact, security, accountability, transparency and control.These principles have been accepted by the Secretary of State and the Board will continue to meet regularly to provide its advice on the app’s progress.

NHS: Computer Software

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government what ongoing oversight of the use of the NHSX COVID-19 contact tracing application and the tracing data so gathered the NHSX Ethics Advisory Board will carry out.

lord bethell: The advice and expertise of the Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) is crucial to everything we do and will continue to guide development of the app by identifying, defining, and examining the key ethical considerations, including consideration of the interests of citizens. Their advice will extend to policies and other documents under development by NHSX on the contact tracing application. This will be provided regularly and formally to the App Oversight Board. Advice may be both on questions set by the App Oversight Board, as well as issues which the EAB has proactively identified. This may include verbal advice as well as tabled papers. Minutes from EAB meetings will be published periodically and board members originating from the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation are providing direct and ongoing policy support to the App Probity Team.

NHSX

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether, and if so when, the minutes of the meetings of the NHSX Ethics Advisory Board will be published.

lord bethell: The Ethics Advisory Board has met seven times since Thursday 2 April and minutes from these meetings will shortly be made publicly available - subject to being agreed by the App Oversight Board.

NHS: Computer Software

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether the NHSX COVID-19 contact tracing application is considered to be a Grade 1 medical device in law, and if so, what rules must trials of such a product follow.

lord bethell: The NHSX COVID-19 contract tracing application is considered Class IIa under the Medical Devices Regulations (2002).The legal requirements relating to clinical investigations are set out in the Medical Devices Regulations 2002 (section 16 and section 29) and the Medical Devices Directive (Annexes VIII and X).A clinical investigation of a non-CE-marked device must be designed to establish that the performance claimed by the manufacturer can be adequately demonstrated, and that the device is judged to be safe to use on patients taking into account any risks associated with the use of the device when weighed against the expected benefits.The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency reviewed an application made by NHSX and authorised the supply of the non-CE-marked NHSX COVID-19 contact tracing app for a pilot on the Isle of Wight in the interests of the protection of public health under Regulation 12(5) of the Medical Devices Regulations 2002.

NHS: Computer Software

lord clement-jones: To ask Her Majesty's Government when the NHSX Ethics Advisory Board approved the Data Processing Impact Assessment, including its risk registers, for the NHSX COVID-19 contact tracing application.

lord bethell: The Ethics Advisory Board (EAB) is an advisory body and does not approve documentation. Notwithstanding, and in the interests of transparency, an early draft of the Data Protection Impact Assessment (DPIA) was shared with the EAB on 29 April and subsequently developed.Further DPIAs will meet the best practice guidance set out by the Information Commissioner’s Office and will be iterated for every stage of the rollout.

NHS: Computer Software

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what security and privacy provisions are being used to protect the data of the users of the NHSX contact-tracing app, while making it effective for use by epidemiologists and public health officials.

lord bethell: NHSX recognises that users must have trust and confidence in the way personal data is collected by the app and subsequently used by epidemiologists to respond to the COVID-19 crisis. We have prioritised security and privacy in all stages of the app’s development and have drawn on expertise from across Government and industry to review our app designs. Any user data collected centrally by the National Health Service will be held to the highest security standards. In addition to the continual monitoring, review and oversight undertaken by the NHS we have consulted with the National Cyber Security Centre to review and supplement our processes. Companies working for the NHS will be bound by data processing agreements that specify how the data must be secured, used, and destroyed. For an explanation of how the risk scoring algorithm works we have published an explanation on the FAQ page of the NHS COVID-19 website.

Coronavirus: South Korea

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what lessons they have learnt from the experienceof the authorities in South Korea in tackling COVID-19; and how thatis informing their actions inthe next phase of the lockdown.

lord bethell: The Department is regularly in discussions with other countries on a wide range of issues of issues relating to COVID-19, including lockdown measures.COVID-19 presents a global challenge which requires a collaborative response. The Department will continue to work with other countries throughout the crisis and beyond.

NHS: Technology

baroness kennedy of cradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what safeguards to individual privacy they are putting in place in respect of the use of personal data, applications and other forms of technology to help stop the spread of COVID-19.

lord bethell: We have worked rigorously to make the app as privacy-conscious as possible, only collecting the data necessary to fulfil its epidemiological purpose and save lives. Existing law and National Health Service standards set out a framework of protective measures which ensure that user data remains secure and confidential and that the app is legally compliant. These standards include those set out within the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018 in cases where data is provided that might identify an individual. The details of how an individual’s data will be used and how the requirements of GDPR and the European Convention on Human Rights apply have been set out in the Privacy Notice and the Data Protection Impact Assessment but these include that data sharing will always be proportionate and the collected data will be minimised. The key security and privacy designs of the app have been published, along with the source code, and we have welcomed scrutiny from experts at the National Cyber Security Centre, our independent Ethics Advisory Board, the Information Commissioner’s Office, and security researchers and ethicists from industry.

Coronavirus: Research

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what mechanisms they are using to keep themselves appraised of research activity taking place in universities, institutes, foundations around the world into different aspects of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord bethell: The Government has been closely monitoring the emerging data and evidence on COVID-19. This happens in a number of ways including academic research networks, regular conversations between United Kingdom experts and their international colleagues, and resources such as the live systematic map being updated by the Evidence for Policy and Practice Information and Co-ordinating Centre, funded by the National Institute for Health Research.

Coronavirus: Digital Technology

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the actions of the authorities in New Zealand, Thailand, and Taiwan in deploying digital technologies to enforce quarantines.

lord bethell: We are aware of the approaches of New Zealand, Thailand, and Taiwan in deploying digital technologies to enforce quarantines. No formal assessment has been made due to differences in approach: New Zealand, for example, does not have a contact tracing app. We will, however, continue to work with others to exchange ideas and develop solutions which take into account cultural and societal difference.

NHS: Computer Software

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any risk models used on smart phone apps to perform contact tracing use Bayesian inference to decide the best course of action given the test results of the user and those of other users.

lord bethell: The National Health Service COVID-19 app’s risk scoring algorithm does not currently use Bayesian inference. Instead, a user’s risk is calculated using a combination of heuristics, developed in collaboration with expert epidemiologists from the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute. We have published an explanation of how the risk scoring algorithm works on the FAQ page of the NHS COVID-19 website in an online only format. For future versions of the app, we are working on a fully probabilistic, Bayesian risk scoring algorithm.

Drugs: Export Controls

lord lennie: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they plan to remove UK export bans on medicines introduced as a response to COVID-19.

lord bethell: There is no export ban on medicines. There are restrictions on exports by holders of a wholesale dealer licence of some medicines put on the United Kingdom market for UK patients. The restrictions have been in place since October 2019. They are aimed at stopping companies from diverting medicines, which have been put on the market for UK patients, to other markets. The restrictions do not apply to medicines manufactured and intended for other markets.The restrictions are not a response to COVID-19. However, because of COVID-19 more medicines meet the criteria for listing. The restrictions currently apply to under 200 medicines which are in shortage or at risk of being in shortage in the UK. The list is under continual review and medicines will be removed when they no longer meet the criteria.

NHS: Computer Software

lord strasburger: To ask Her Majesty's Government which companies and other bodies will be holding data generated by (1) the NHSX COVID-19 contact tracing application, and (2) the contact tracing carried about by human contact tracers; and when the data sharing agreements with each of those entities will be published.

lord bethell: App users’ information will be stored securely on their phone. If they choose to share their information with the National Health Service, it will remain under the control of the NHS throughout. Companies working for the NHS to process that data will be bound by data processing agreements that specify how and when the data must be used. Private commercial companies do not have access to personally identifiable data.

NHS: Computer Software

lord strasburger: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether any person will be compelled to download or use the NHSX COVID-19 contact tracing application; and whether they will propose that it be a criminal offence (1) to require a person to download or use the app by refusing to sell goods or services, (2) to discriminate in employment or (3) to block entry to public premises because a person has not downloaded or is not using the app.

lord bethell: The app will be one of a number of tools we use in the fight against COVID-19 but it will be voluntary. People will always have a choice of whether or not to download the app and will be able to delete it whenever they like. We see the app as having most value where its use is voluntary and we will look at how we can work with employers and services on this.

NHS: Computer Software

baroness corston: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) security, and (2) privacy, provisions are being used to protect the data of the users of the NHSX COVID-19 contact tracing application; and what steps they have taken to ensure that the information gathered by that application is what is required by (a) epidemiologists, and (b) public health officials.

lord bethell: We have worked rigorously to make the app as privacy-conscious as possible, only collecting the data necessary to fulfil its epidemiological purpose and save lives. Security and privacy have been prioritised at all stages of the app’s development and we have drawn on expertise from across Government and industry to review our app’s designs.Any user data collected centrally by the National Health Service will be held to the highest security standards. In addition to the continual monitoring, review and oversight undertaken by the NHS, we have consulted with the National Cyber Security Centre to review and supplement our processes. The app has been designed to calculate a user’s risk of infection using a heuristic model developed in collaboration with expert epidemiologists from the University of Oxford’s Big Data Institute. We have published an explanation of how the risk scoring algorithm works on the online only FAQ page of the NHS COVID-19 website. NHS doctors and scientists will continuously update the risk scoring algorithm to make it as accurate as possible.The data collected supports the wider public health approach of manual contact tracing and testing. Anyone who has symptoms that are consistent with COVID-19, whether or not they are an app user, will be able to report those symptoms and get a test to find out if they have the virus.

Diabetes: Drugs

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that diagnosed diabetics in the UK will have sufficient medication to prevent diabetic ketoacidosis, in the event that the UK leaves the transition period without a trade agreement with the EU on 31 December.

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure there will be nodelay (1) to the supply of radiopharmaceuticals, and (2) to the treatment of patients with serious conditions, in the event that the UK leaves the transition period without a trade agreement with the EU on 31 December.

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have toensure that medication prescriptions will be guaranteed in the event that the UK leaves the transition period without a trade agreement with the EU on 31 December.

lord bethell: As part of our concerted national efforts, we will continue doing everything we can to ensure patients continue to access safe and effective medicines in all scenarios.It remains the Government’s objective to negotiate a future relationship with the European Union before the end of the Transition Period and to make sure that patients reap the rewards. Both the United Kingdom and EU, in their published negotiating documents, have stated objectives to reach an agreement on trade in goods. The UK’s published approach sets out how we want to facilitate trade in medicinal products such as diabetic medicines and medical radioisotopes and support high levels of patient safety.The Department will continue to work closely with the pharmaceutical industry, the National Health Service and others in the supply chain to help ensure patients can access the medicines they need, and precautions are in place to reduce the likelihood of future shortages.

Department for International Development

Libya: Humanitarian Aid

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the humanitarian aid package for Libya proposed by the government of Malta and agreed with EU Foreign Ministers on 22 April.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: We welcome efforts to address the humanitarian situation in Libya. The UK remains deeply concerned by the ongoing conflict in Libya and by the potential for COVID-19 to have a devastating impact. We urge all parties to the conflict to de-escalate and engage with the UN and the humanitarian community to reduce the impact on the population and to allow an effective response to the shared threat of COVID-19. The UK continues to support humanitarian response in Libya, including in the healthcare sector.

Overseas Aid: Coronavirus

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they have provided, as part of their International Aid programme, to alleviate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic in (1) Bangladesh, (2) Sri Lanka, and (3) Liberia.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is at the forefront of the global response to COVID-19, through our diplomatic efforts and the provision of £744 million of UK aid to counter the health, humanitarian, and economic impacts.UK aid is supporting Bangladesh’s efforts in fighting COVID-19 across the country. The UK has allocated around £21 million so far to support the priorities set out in the Government of Bangladesh's National Preparedness and Response plan. This includes more than £7 million to support the national health systems and £3 million to the UN Development Programme to reach at least 2.16 million of the poorest inhabitants. More than £10 million has been allocated to existing UN and NGO partners to prepare for COVID-19 and maintain critical humanitarian services in the Rohingya refugee camps. Furthermore, DFID and Unilever are collaborating on a mass global handwashing campaign, which will run across TV, radio and print, social and digital media to help change people’s behaviour in countries across Africa and Asia, including Bangladesh. Messages will be tailored to communities in these countries to ensure they are effective.The UK does not have a bilateral aid programme in Sri Lanka but through our support to the UN and other international bodies, UK aid will indirectly support Sri Lanka in tackling COVID-19. The UK has also adapted our Conflict, Security and Stability Fund work in Sri Lanka to respond to mitigate the impacts of COVID-19 on vulnerable and conflict affected communities.The UK is a significant contributor to the IMF Catastrophe Fund which Liberia has accessed for debt relief. DFID is aware of the existing levels of poverty and fragile economy in Liberia and is therefore working to address the impacts that COVID-19 will have. In order to do this, we are prioritising our health response as well as the provision of social protection.

Disaster Relief: Non-governmental Organisations

baroness hodgson of abinger: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to increase the amount of funding allocated to the Rapid Response Facility to an amount commensurate to the delivery capacity and reach of non-governmental organisations.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Decisions on allocating funds through the Rapid Response Facility (RRF) are being made in relation to the wider DFID COVID19 response. We have no current plans to increase the amount of funding allocated to the RRF, but will keep the funding under review as we do with all our humanitarian interventions. DFID is also adapting its programmes across its country network to respond to COVID-19 and has committed significant new funding through the multilateral system. We expect NGOs to play a key role in delivery through both these channels, and indeed recognise that in many places NGOs will be best placed to meet the needs of those most vulnerable, at risk and hard to reach. In addition, extra funding has been allocated to NGOs through the DFID Unilever COVID-19 Hygiene and Behaviour Change Coalition.

Rohingya: Coronavirus

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 5 May (HL 3447 ), whether the Essential Service Package disseminated in refugee camps includes personal protective equipment to protect health workers and clients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: Humanitarian response is procuring personal protective equipment (PPE) for health workers to prevent the spread of COVID-19. While each service provider is responsible for obtaining the PPE it needs, agencies are coordinating and sharing information, including supplier contacts, through the UN Logistics Cluster. The UN has quality control guidelines and is establishing a global common supply chain. Similarly, the Bangladesh Government is coordinating procurement and dissemination of PPE to all government hospitals, including those in Cox’s Bazar to which refugees with severe cases of COVID-19 or other illness may be referred.

Nigeria: Humanitarian Aid

baroness cox: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Sugg on 4 May (HL 3012), when the review into humanitarian assistance for additional areas of Nigeria beyond the North East region will be completed.

baroness sugg: The UK is pleased to be a leading donor in responding to the humanitarian crisis in North East Nigeria and will provide at least £60 million in humanitarian aid between April 2020 and March 2021. We review the need for humanitarian assistance on an ongoing basis to ensure that lifesaving assistance is directed towards the most vulnerable people with the acute needs. Following the confirmation of COVID-19 cases in Nigeria we have been monitoring whether there is need for UK-funded humanitarian assistance in other areas of the country. We do not currently assess that there is a need for UK-funded humanitarian assistance beyond the North East region. In the future the UK may decide to provide humanitarian assistance to other areas of Nigeria, based on lifesaving needs.

Rohingya: Coronavirus

baroness tonge: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Ahmad of Wimbledon on 5 May 2020 (HL 3447 ), how UK health workers disseminate public health messages on COVID-19 in Rohingya refugee camps.

lord ahmad of wimbledon: The UK is reaching refugees with information and support to reduce rumours, myths, fear and panic about COVID-19, through the Communications with Communities Working Group. This includes a large array of methods to disseminate messages to refugees and the host community including community meetings where possible; radio, posters and leaflets; videos, loudspeakers and information service centres. Messages are being endorsed by the Cox’s Bazar Civil Surgeon, translated into the Rohingya language and Bangla, and are being developed in consultation with Rohingya people, including religious leaders, to ensure they are effective. We are reaching out to vulnerable older people directly and child-friendly messaging is also being used.We continue to make representations to the Government of Bangladesh to lift internet restrictions so public health messages can be shared more easily.

Kenya: Overseas Aid

lord hylton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assistance they and international partners are providing to the government of Kenya to deal with (1) locusts, (2) malaria, (3) food shortages, and (4) COVID-19, particularly in the Nairobi and Mombasa regions.

baroness sugg: The UK is supporting the Government of Kenya’s response to locusts through a £7 million contribution to the UN Food and Agricultural Organisation’s regional locust appeal, and core funding to the UN’s Central Emergency Response Fund, which has committed £7.5 million. This will help support efforts to control and manage the outbreak.UK support to malaria is provided through the Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and malaria (GFATM), to which the UK contributes approximately 10 per cent of the overall budget. To date, GFATM has disbursed approximately £311 million for malaria in Kenya, the majority of which has been used to procure key commodities for treatment, testing and bed nets.On food shortages, since 2007, the UK has committed £255 million to establish and support the government’s Hunger Safety Net Programme (HSNP) in four arid counties. HSNP provides regular cash transfers to over 100,000 households, with capacity to reach an additional 275,000 households during drought periods. The transfers are largely used to meet beneficiaries’ food needs. In addition, the World Food Programme is supporting GoK to assist up to 390,000 vulnerable and food insecure people, including through cash transfers and in-kind food assistance.

Africa: Disease Control

the earl of sandwich: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) malaria, and (2) non-COVID-19 epidemic, services and programmes in Africa are adequately resourced during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness sugg: The UK Government recognises that COVID-19 will have significant direct and indirect impacts on health in Africa. Indirect impacts will be the result of disruption to, and a reduction in, health service delivery.In response, we are flexing our funding and programming. We are building on our long-term investments to mitigate the threat of indirect impacts on various services and goods. These include reproductive health services and commodities as well as essential primary health care services, such as immunisation. We also aim to increase access and reduce prices for essential health commodities.The UK Government is working with governments to ensure that essential malaria services continue, malaria patients are protected from COVID-19 and malaria programmes make good decisions about redeploying resources to national COVID-19 programmes in a sustainable way. We continue to be the second largest country donor in the global fight against malaria.

Department for Education

Higher Education: Coronavirus

lord bourne of aberystwyth: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on the higher education sector.

baroness berridge: In 2018-19, there were 2.38 million students studying at UK higher education providers. This includes 143,000 students from the EU and 343,000 students from other countries. The total UK sector income in 2018/19 was £40.8 billion. Almost 50% of this income was from tuition fees, around 15% comes from research grants and contracts and around 6% comes from residences, catering and conferences. The government recognises that the Covid-19 outbreak will have an unparalleled impact on all elements of the global and UK economy. The higher education sector, including student recruitment, is no exception.On 4 May, my right honourable Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced a package of measures to stabilise university admissions this autumn and to ensure sustainability in higher education at a time of unprecedented uncertainty. My right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, wrote to all Honourable Members with full details of the package, details of which have also been published on GOV.UK: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-students.The government is doing all that it can to keep staff and students at our universities safe in this unprecedented situation whilst mitigating the impact on education. In March, my right hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, wrote to students at higher education institutions to outline the support available. We continue to work closely with the sector, putting student wellbeing at the heart of these discussions.Our latest guidance on the impact of Covid-19 is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.

Children: Coronavirus

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the proportion of school children living in povertywho fall into the vulnerable category for the purposes of their education policy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: Our latest guidance on vulnerable children is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings. During the coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak, for the purposes of continued attendance at educational settings, vulnerable children and young people are defined as those who:are assessed as being in need under section 17 of the Children Act 1989, including children who have a child in need plan, a child protection plan or who are a looked-after childhave an education, health and care (EHC) plan whose needs cannot be met safely in the home environmenthave been assessed as otherwise vulnerable by educational providers or local authorities (including children’s social care services), and who are therefore in need of continued education provision. This might include children on the edge of receiving support from children’s social care services, adopted children, or those who are young carers, and others at the provider and local authority discretion The official statistics on the number of children in poverty is based on the Annual Households Below Average Income Survey. It is not possible to separately identify children defined as ‘vulnerable’ from the survey data. The department’s analysis of deprivation and low income in education uses free school meal eligibility as an indicator of children living in families that need additional support. Detail on free school meal eligibility is available at: https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-school-meals. We do not hold data on the overlap between the numbers of children and young people included in the total of the three categories of vulnerable children and children eligible for free school meals. Our published ‘characteristics of children in need: 2018 to 2019’ data shows that 54.1% of Children in Need at 31 March 2019 (aged 5-16, excluding those who were looked after at any point during the year unless they were also on a child protection plan) were eligible for free school meals. This data is available in Table 1 of the ‘Children in need outcomes national tables: 2019’ available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/characteristics-of-children-in-need-2018-to-2019. Our published information on children with Special Educational Needs from the 2019 school census shows that, in January 2019, 32.7% of pupils with EHC plans were eligible for free school meals. This is published here: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/special-educational-needs-in-england-january-2019. Educational providers and local authorities have the discretion to offer support to children and young people who they consider to be vulnerable, where the child or young person does not fall into either of the categories above. Educational providers and local authorities may therefore choose to offer support to children and young people where their individual circumstances, including the impact of poverty, may suggest that they would benefit from this support and continued provision. As this is based on ongoing, locally made decisions, we do not hold data on the number of children and young people that have been identified as otherwise vulnerable or the overlap between this cohort and their eligibility for free school meals. These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Universities: Finance

lord bassam of brighton: To ask Her Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the financial impact on UK universities of restrictions on travel from overseas students in the (1) current academic year, and (2) 2020/21 academic year.

baroness berridge: In the 2018/19 academic year, tuition fees from international students at UK higher education providers accounted for around £6.9 billion of sector income. The government recognises that the COVID-19 outbreak will have an unparalleled impact on all elements of the global and UK economy. The higher education sector, including student recruitment, is no exception. We have been working closely with the sector to monitor the likely impacts of COVID-19, on international student numbers, including restrictions on travel. We understand the coronavirus outbreak and a possible reduction in the number of international students poses significant challenges and stand ready to help the sector with various mitigations.The government is working to ensure existing rules and regulations, including visa regulations, are as flexible as possible for international students under these unprecedented circumstances. Higher education providers will also be flexible in accommodating applicants’ circumstances where possible, including if they are unable to travel to the UK in time for the start of the academic year.On 4 May, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced the package of measures to stabilise university admissions this autumn and ensure sustainability in higher education at a time of unprecedented uncertainty. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, wrote to all Honourable Members on 4 May, with full details of the package, which have also been published on GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-students.The new graduate route, due to be launched in summer 2021, provides an opportunity for international students who have been awarded their degree to stay and work in the UK at any skill level for two years. This represents a significant improvement in our offer to international students and will help ensure our world-leading higher education sector remains competitive internationally.The International Education Strategy, published in March 2019, by the Department for Education and the Department for International Trade, set out a commitment to review progress following its publication.  The review  will  ensure the International Education Strategy responds to this new context and the challenges that are  posed.

Children: Coronavirus

baroness royall of blaisdon: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to ensure that the most vulnerable children whose education is being disrupted during the COVID-19 pandemic will be able to catch up with their peers in due course.

baroness berridge: The department will do whatever it can to make sure no child, whatever their background or location, falls behind as a result of coronavirus. Schools remain open for the children of critical workers and vulnerable children, who are encouraged to attend where it is appropriate for them to do so. Where vulnerable children are not attending an educational setting, we have asked local authorities, schools and colleges to continue to keep in touch with these children and young people during this period. Schools are continuing to receive additional funding in the form of the pupil premium – worth around £2.4 billion annually – to help them support their disadvantaged pupils. The government has also committed over £100 million to support children learn at home during this crisis and is considering, with a range of partner organisations, how best to support all pupils who have been affected by school closures. We are working at pace with experts, including the Education Endowment Foundation, to understand and address the immediate and longer-term impacts of school closures. This includes considering the benefits and challenges of a targeted online tutoring offer and the feasibility of some support over the summer.

Students: Coronavirus

the lord bishop of winchester: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to increase the number of students enrolling on courses with a public service focus, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: On Monday 4 May, my right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, announced a package of measures to stabilise university admissions this autumn and to ensure sustainability in higher education at a time of unprecedented uncertainty. My hon. Friend, the Minister of State for Universities, wrote to all hon. Members on 4 May with full details of the package, which have also been published on GOV.UK: www.gov.uk/government/news/government-support-package-for-universities-and-students.Controls on student numbers at provider level will be determined based on provider forecasts and will allow for 5% growth above this. My right hon. Friend, the Secretary of State for Education, will also have the discretion to allocate an additional 10,000 places, with 5,000 of those places ringfenced for students studying nursing or allied health courses.From September 2020, all new and continuing degree-level nursing students and midwifery students - and many allied health students - will receive additional funding of at least £5,000 per academic year, which they will not need to pay back, to help with living costs.Students are already a priority target audience for our recruitment campaign for teaching, which supports the department’s targets for entry to post-graduate initial teacher training. The marketing campaign is resuming in May and will run through until August for applications to start training in autumn 2020.The government will continue to support enrolments on social work education programmes through the provision of bursaries and our fast-track graduate entry programmes.As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Our latest guidance on the impact of COVID-19 is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.These are rapidly developing circumstances. We will continue to keep the situation under review and to keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Apprentices: Coronavirus

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support the long-term viability of apprenticeship providers, in the light of the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19.Training providers have in many cases developed effective online learning resources which enables them to retain their apprentices on programme so they can continue developing new skills, which will be vital for our economic recovery. At the same time training providers also have access to the comprehensive range of business support measures announced by HM Treasury. In addition, on 24 April 2020, the Education and Skills Funding Agency launched a Provider Relief Scheme which will put in place short term financial measures to support eligible training providers’ cash flow based on an assessment of need. This will enable us to retain capacity within the apprenticeships and adult education sector to deliver the skills we will need to support economic recovery post-outbreak. The relief scheme will also enable training providers who are eligible for support to maintain delivery to and support for existing apprentices, learners and employers whilst enabling new apprentices and learners to enrol as soon as it is safe to do so. Additionally, to ensure that providers are able to continue to deliver quality apprenticeships and maintain their income throughout the disruption, we have made significant changes to some aspects of our funding rules, offering immediate solutions to the problems being faced.Our latest guidance on working with apprentices in the current environment is set out below:https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-guidance-for-schools-and-other-educational-settings.These are rapidly developing circumstances; we continue to keep the situation under review and I will keep Parliament updated accordingly.

Apprentices: Coronavirus

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the role that apprenticeships will play insupporting (1) the economy, and(2) people to gain the skills they need, after the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: Apprenticeships will play an important role in supporting economic recovery. They provide individuals with a valuable route into employment, a boost to their career, and enable employers to build the skilled workforce they need to recover and grow.There are now over 530 high-quality, employer-designed apprenticeship standards to equip individuals with the transferable skills, knowledge and behaviours that employers want.We are actively supporting apprentices, employers and training providers during this challenging time, and have introduced a number of flexibilities so apprentices can continue learning and complete their apprenticeships. We are promoting the remote delivery of training and assessment, and eligible furloughed employees can continue or start new apprenticeships.We continue to work closely with employers, providers and apprentices to ensure high-quality apprenticeships support businesses to recover and thrive by equipping them with the skills they need for the future.

Apprentices: Coronavirus

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that apprentices who have deferred, or taken a break in their studies, because of the COVID-19 pandemic can continue once the lockdown is lifted.

baroness berridge: We have introduced flexibilities to make it easier for apprentices of all ages to continue to benefit from the high-quality training that an apprenticeship provides. This includes apprentices who are furloughed, who can continue to train and undertake end point assessments, and also start apprenticeships where eligible. We are encouraging providers and assessment organisations to deliver training, assessment and support for apprentices remotely wherever possible.Where it is not possible to continue training or assessment due to COVID-19, we have enabled apprentices, employers and providers to initiate a break in learning to ensure that apprentices can continue and complete their apprenticeships when it is possible to do so. We have also introduced flexibilities to enable apprentices to complete their apprenticeship in the event of disruption to assessment. Apprentices ready for assessment, but who cannot be assessed due to COVID-19 issues, can now have their end-point assessment rescheduled.Further guidance for employers and training providers is available at: www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-apprenticeship-programme-response.

Apprentices: Coronavirus

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to review the current rules for apprenticeships, which require those who have been made redundant to find another job within 12 weeks in order to continue their apprenticeship.

baroness berridge: Our ambition remains for any apprentice facing redundancy to be supported to find alternative employment and continue their apprenticeship as quickly as possible and within 12 weeks.We fund an apprentice’s training to completion if they have 6 months or less of their apprenticeship remaining at the point at which they are made redundant.Apprentices need to be able to apply their off-the-job training to a workplace environment, so it is important that apprentices remain in work relevant to their apprenticeship.Substantial support for businesses, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme, is intended to enable people to remain in employment and reduce redundancies.Should COVID-19 lead to redundancies, we will endeavour to provide comprehensive, practical support to ensure that apprenticeships can continue.

Universities: Coronavirus

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to converting the 30 poorest-performing universities to vocational training colleges following the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness berridge: The Office for Students (OfS) has made it clear that all higher education providers must continue to meet conditions related to the quality of their courses and the standard of qualifications they award. This means ensuring that courses are high quality, students are supported and achieve good outcomes, and standards are protected. If providers breach those conditions the OfS has powers to impose a range of sanctions, potentially culminating in deregistration and the loss of university status.

Education: Internet

lord blencathra: To ask Her Majesty's Government, following the finding of the Sutton Trust on 20 April that only about 30% of pupils are taking part in online lessons, what action they will take to ensure that schools and teachers are performing their duties.

baroness berridge: The department is committed to ensuring that children can continue to learn at home in these very difficult circumstances. It is up to each school to determine how best to deliver education to its pupils and we recognise that many schools have already shared resources for children who are at home.The department has not required schools to teach online lessons and this is only one way in which they may opt to provide remote education to pupils. The department has, however, issued guidance for schools on delivering remote education, including case studies and an initial list of free resources identified by educational experts and teachers. Many other suppliers have also helpfully made their online and hard-copy resources available for free.Schools can also make use of Oak National Academy, which was launched online on 20 April. This new initiative is led by 40 teachers who have assembled video lessons and resources for any teacher in the country to make use of if they wish to do so. 180 video lessons will be provided each week, across a broad range of subjects, for every year group from Reception through to Year 10. Additionally, the BBC has developed resources for families as part of a comprehensive new education package, which is now available on TV and online at BBC Bitesize.The government has also committed over £100 million to boost remote education, by providing devices and internet access for those who need it most, ensuring every school that wants it has access to free, expert technical support to get set up on Google for Education or Microsoft’s Office 365 Education, and offering peer support from schools and colleges leading the way with the use of education technology.

Higher Education: Registration

baroness randerson: To ask Her Majesty's Government why the registration process for independent higher education providers has been suspended by the Office for Students; and when they plan to recommence registrations.

baroness berridge: The registration process for higher education providers is managed by the Office for Students (OfS), the independent regulator of higher education in England.Due to the outbreak of COVID-19 and the current unprecedented circumstances, the OfS has decided to suspend new registration applications. This is due to a reprioritisation of resources that enables the OfS to focus on urgent COVID-19 response work.The OfS is responsible for deciding when to resume new registrations and will do so as soon as circumstances allow. The OfS is continuing to process applications already submitted for both registration and degree awarding powers and has offered to discuss with individual potential providers wherever there might be exceptional circumstances.

GCSE and GCE A-level: Assessments

lord storey: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have in relation to (1)SATs, (2) GCSEs and (3) A level examinations for the 2020/21 school year and, in particular, whether they expect teacher assessments to be used to determine grades.

baroness berridge: We acknowledge the COVID-19 outbreak has caused stress and uncertainty for pupils and students due to take exams or assessments next year. In relation to SATs, the intention is that primary assessments will take place in 2020/21. With regard to GCSEs and A levels, we are working with Ofqual and the exam boards to develop our approach to next year’s exams, in light of the disruption experienced by students who are studying these courses. We do not anticipate that teacher assessments will be used to determine grades.

Universities: Staff

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussions they have had with Universities UK about the number of universities who have furloughed academic personnel.

baroness berridge: As both my right hon. Friends, the Prime Minister and Chancellor of the Exchequer have made clear, the government will do whatever it takes to support people affected by COVID-19. Since my right hon. Friend, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, announced this government’s unprecedented package of support to help keep staff employed and support businesses, the department has developed guidance for higher education providers so that they are aware of the support that is available to them and may confidently apply for it. That guidance is available here:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care. In developing this guidance, the department worked with trade unions as well as Universities UK (UUK) and the Universities & Colleges Employers Association (UCEA). The department is working with HMRC and HM Treasury to develop appropriate monitoring arrangements for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS).

Higher Education: Standards

lord taylor of warwick: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether students returning to university in the autumn will be able to receive the same standard of education as would normally be provided, and whether course fees should be reduced.

baroness berridge: The government continues to work with the higher education (HE) sector to make sure that all reasonable efforts are being made to enable students to continue their studies to the best of their abilities. The HE sector is already working hard to prepare learning materials for the autumn term.The government is working with the Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education, professional bodies and the Office for Students (OfS), the higher education regulator in England, to ensure students continue to leave university with qualifications that have practical value. The OfS has published guidance for registered providers about how it will approach the regulation of quality and standards during the COVID-19 outbreak. This guidance is clear that standards must be maintained: https://www.officeforstudents.org.uk/publications/guidance-for-providers-about-quality-and-standards-during-coronavirus-pandemic/. Actions that providers are taking now may continue to be required in the 2020-21 academic year if there is prolonged disruption as a result of the outbreak. Universities offering high-quality tuition online will continue to charge fees. We only expect full tuition fees to be charged if online courses are of good quality, fit for purpose and help students progress towards their qualification. If universities want to charge full fees they will have to ensure that the quality is there. The government has made it clear that if providers are unable to deliver adequate online teaching then it would be unacceptable for students to be charged for any additional terms, which would effectively mean that they were being charged twice.Whether an individual student is entitled to a reduction of their fees will depend on specific contractual arrangements between the HE providers and the student. Fee loans are being paid directly to the university at the start of the third term.If a student is concerned about their education or about the steps that their provider has taken to respond to the situation, they should speak to their HE provider in the first instance. The government expects student complaints and appeals processes to be operated flexibly, accessibly and sympathetically by institutions in order to resolve any concerns. Students who are not satisfied with their provider’s final response can ask the Office of the Independent Adjudicator for Higher Education to consider their complaint if their institution is based in England or Wales.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Nurseries

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme on the ability of nurseries and childcare providers to retain staff.

baroness berridge: The government has announced unprecedented support for businesses, including the early years sector, to protect against the impact of COVID-19. For childcare providers, this includes business rates relief for nurseries, a range of loans and grants, and the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme. Information on the support available can be found in the guidance for early years settings here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding.Early years settings will also continue to receive early years entitlement funding, and can access the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme to cover up to the proportion of their pay bill which could be considered to have been paid for from their provider’s private income.The department has published guidance on the financial support available for all settings, including information on the interaction between early years entitlements funding and the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme. The guidance is available at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care#sector-specific-guidance.If a provider sees their early years dedicated schools grant income reduced by their local authority in order to fund childcare places elsewhere, they may be able to increase the proportion of their salary bill eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme in the next furlough period. Further information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/use-of-free-early-education-entitlements-funding-during-the-coronavirus-outbreak/use-of-free-early-education-entitlements-funding-during-coronavirus-covid-19#using-the-coronavirus-job-retention-scheme.The government is monitoring the impact these measures are having and keeping all policies under review.

Children: Disadvantaged

lord watson of invergowrie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to provide increased financial assistance to school children from disadvantaged families in England when schools reopen.

baroness berridge: Schools will continue to receive their budgets for the coming year as usual, regardless of any periods of partial or complete closure. That will ensure that they are able to continue to pay their staff and meet other regular financial commitments. We will also continue to pay the pupil premium, worth around £2.4 billion per annum, to schools so that they have extra funding to provide support to their disadvantaged pupils – with per pupil rates for the current financial year being the highest ever.

Ministry of Justice

Remand in Custody

lord german: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many prisoners were held on remand for non-violent offencesin (1) January, (2) February, (3) March, and (4) April.

lord keen of elie: In answering this question we have interpreted ‘violent’ as ‘Violence Against The Person’. The table below therefore provides information on the total numbers of prisoners that were held on both pre-trial and post-conviction remand for offences excluding those in the ‘Violence Against The Person’ offence group on 31 January, 29 February and 31 March 2020. It has not been possible to provide this information for April because the data will not be available until the end of July 2020 when the next Offender Management Statistics Quarterly will be published.Table 1: Remand prison population (excluding (alleged) “Violence Against The Person” offence group), as at 31 January to 31 March 2020; England & Wales 31-Jan-2029-Feb-2031-Mar-20Total 'non-violent' remand population7,6227,7097,589Data sources and qualityThe figures in these tables have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.Source: PQ HL 3825 (Ministry of Justice; DASD-JSAS)

Disability and Special Educational Needs: Tribunals

lord lingfield: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Special Educational Needs and Disability Tribunal hearings were cancelled for the second or subsequent time in the 2019 calendar year.

lord keen of elie: I have to advise the Noble Lord that this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost. The next release of data will be the Tribunals Quarterly Statistics on 11 June 2020 which will provide information from January to March 2020 and can be found at this address: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics.

Offenders: Learning Disability and Mental Illness

lord bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to protect people with(1) mental health conditions, and (2) learning disabilities, who have been arrested and are required to appear in a magistrates court, from COVID-19.

lord keen of elie: Services within HMCTS are adjusting to Covid-19 at an agile pace. We’re doing everything possible to ensure any potential negative impacts are identified and mitigated for vulnerable users, by putting the right support in place for them.Levels of compliance with social distancing by criminal courts are high. HMCTS are following Public Health guidance to ensure that our courts and tribunals support proper social distancing measures for everyone who uses and works in them.Working with the judiciary, we have agreed how to prioritise the most urgent cases and moved to hear many more cases remotely by telephone or video wherever possible and appropriate. We are clear that audio and video hearings provide an additional channel for conducting a hearing and should be as accessible as possible. The decision to hold a hearing by telephone or video is for the judge, panel or magistrate, taking into account the needs of the parties, including any disability or difficulties with access.We work with the advice sector to fully understand the impacts on vulnerable people, reasonable adjustments, and reflecting up to date advice from the sector in our processes for court users to join hearings and related staff guidance. We are also planning an evaluation of the use of remote hearings during the Covid-19 outbreak. This includes exploring how remote hearing processes were implemented and worked in practice, and how experiences varied for different user groups.Hearings in the mental health tribunal are taking place by audio and video, and the President and Deputy President of the Health, Education and Social Care chamber have issued guidance on these hearings.

Compulsorily Detained Psychiatric Patients: Coronavirus

lord bradley: To ask Her Majesty's Government whatsteps they are taking to protect people who have been remanded into prison whilst awaiting a psychiatric report requested by a magistrates court from COVID-19.

lord keen of elie: All prisoners are assessed by healthcare practitioners on reception into prison custody. Every establishment has been required to develop a local healthcare delivery plan for the COVID-19 period which will outline provisions for prisoners with the full range of healthcare needs and how these will be met locally. Arrangements vary between sites however reporting commitments will be managed in conjunction with local courts. We are implementing a range of measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 in prisons. We have restricted prison regimes to support prisoners and staff adhere to social distancing and we have minimised inter prison transfers. We are also implementing a strategy of compartmentalisation: isolating the symptomatic, shielding the vulnerable and quarantining new arrivals in reverse cohorting units. Those on remand are subject to the same compartmentalisation measures as the regular population, with new arrivals from the courts being located in reverse cohorting units. This strategy is in line with Public Health England guidance and has shown early signs of success in limiting the transmission of COVID-19.

Department for International Trade

Trade Agreements

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government with which countries they (1) have made trade agreements since 1 January, and (2) are currently engaged in trade negotiations.

lord grimstone of boscobel: HM Government launched negotiations on a new Free Trade Agreement (FTA) between the United Kingdom and the United States of America on 5th May 2020. We plan to launch negotiations with Japan this month and with Australia and New Zealand shortly after. We also continue to work to secure continuity agreements with all remaining countries that had a trade agreement with the EU on 31st January 2020. To date, HM Government has signed 20 agreements with 48 countries.Agreements Signed to Date:• Switzerland• Liechtenstein • Iceland, Norway • Israel • the Palestinian Authority • Chile • the Faroe Islands • Eastern and Southern Africa states (Madagascar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe) • The Pacific states (Fiji and Papua New Guinea) • A series of CARIFORUM countries (Barbados, Belize, The Commonwealth of Dominica, Dominican Republic, Grenada, The Republic of Guyana, Jamaica, Saint Christopher and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago) • Andean countries (Colombia, Ecuador, Peru) • Central American countries (Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Panama) • South Korea • Lebanon• Tunisia • SACU+M • Georgia • Morocco• Jordan • KosovoAgreements yet to be Signed• Algeria• Albania• Bosnia and Herzigovina• Cameroon• Canada• Cote d’Ivoire• East African Community (EAC)• Egypt• Ghana• Mexico• Moldova• Montenegro• North Macedonia• Serbia• Singapore• Ukraine

Procurement

lord lennie: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop more resilient supply chainsafter the COVID-19pandemic. [T]

lord grimstone of boscobel: Free trade and resilient supply chains through open markets will be crucial to the global economic recovery. That is why this Department is factoring-in critical supply chains into our COVID-19 strategy and response, working collaboratively with other government departments. The Department will continue to work with business to build further resilience for the future. Alongside this, the United Kingdom will fight protectionism and unfair trade practices tirelessly, including through the G20 and in the WTO.

Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government

Council Tax: Coronavirus

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to provide funding to councilsfor the provision of payment holidays and forbearance for households unable to pay council tax due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: Council tax plays a vital role in funding the delivery of essential frontline services during the COVID-19 pandemic. Each council has its own local council tax support scheme which provides reductions in council tax for low income residents. The Government has also provided a £500m hardship fund to enable councils to provide further council tax relief. Councils have powers to implement alternative payment arrangements locally and many have used these to help individuals who are struggling to pay.

Local Government Finance: Coronavirus

baroness pinnock: To ask Her Majesty's Government what (1) pressures were identified, and (2) criteria used, to inform the distribution of the most recent round of funding to local authorities to help them meet the additional demands on services due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: On 18 April the Government announced an additional £1.6 billion of funding to support councils delivering essential front-line services during COVID-19, with allocations to individual local authorities announced on 28 April.Since the first wave of COVID-19 funding, the Government has kept funding needs across the country under review, using data collection and our conversations with councils to refine our assessment of pressures.The allocations are based on the population in each area. This distribution draws on our latest understanding of the distribution of additional COVID-19 pressures, which are likely to be distributed in a way that is different from pre-existing needs. The Government made a commitment to support all councils with the additional cost pressures from the extra work we have asked councils to carry out as a result of the epidemic. We are also aware of the impacts from falling revenues, which affect councils across the country.The allocations should be seen in the context of the first wave of funding, which was distributed as an immediate response to developing pressures on adult social care. Across both waves, almost 70% of district councils will receive £1 million or more in support, whilst over 90% of the total will go to authorities with responsibility for social care services.

UK Shared Prosperity Fund

baroness hayter of kentish town: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to develop the application process, including the criteria and decision-making process for applications, for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and when they will publish these details.

lord greenhalgh: Government has committed to creating a UK Shared Prosperity Fund to succeed European structural funds and bind together the whole of the United Kingdom, tackling inequality and deprivation in each of our four nations. The UK Government can cut out bureaucracy and create a fund which invests in UK priorities and is easier for local areas to access.The government understands the importance of this investment for people, business and places and will set out further plans for the fund in due course. Final decisions on the design of the fund will need to be taken after a cross-Government Spending Review. In the meantime, we will continue to work closely with interested parties whilst developing the fund.

Local Government: Property

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government which English local authorities are known to have invested public funds in the purchase of commercial property in the last two years; and which of those have reported losses to central Government in so doing in the last 12 months.

lord greenhalgh: Government does not routinely collect data from local authorities on individual capital transactions. Local authorities submit financial data returns to Government covering total annual spend on capital investment, categorised by service area rather than asset type. Commercial activities are included in the category of ‘trading expenditure’. Government may collect additional data from local authority published strategies, including on individual authorities, based on a risk-based approach in keeping with its role as steward of the financial system.Local authorities do not routinely report financial losses of any sort directly to Government. Instead, each local authority manages their financial position at the local level.

Local Government: Coronavirus

lord roberts of llandudno: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to local authorities to prepare communities to readjust following the end of the restrictions imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: We understand that local authorities know better than anyone the needs of local people, and that they are trying incredibly hard to balance the need to maintain services alongside wider responsibilities for the health and wellbeing of residents.Ministers and officials have led regular engagement with local authorities throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. This includes dedicated Government Liaison Officers, support through Local Resilience Forums, and £3.2bn of additional funding – the details of which can be found (attached) here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/government-confirms-allocations-of-1-6-billion-funding-boost-for-councilsThe Government will continue to work closely with local authorities over the coming weeks and months to ensure they are managing as the pandemic progresses and we have a collective understanding of the costs they are facing.



Funding allocation
(Excel SpreadSheet, 105.78 KB)

Community Development

baroness uddin: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that (1) BAME, and (2) Muslim, women’s organisations are allocated enough funding to meet service demands.

lord greenhalgh: Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government continues to play a facilitative role in ensuring Government understands the needs of BAME communities, including Muslim women, and the challenges they may be currently facing in relation to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is some evidence to suggest that BAME communities may be disproportionately affected by coronavirus.There is a substantial package of targeted support for charities on the frontline of responding to COVID-19. The £750m DCMS-led funding package that the Government has announced will support organisations working with vulnerable groups impacted by COVID-19, including some in BAME communities.Of this funding, £370m will support smaller, local charities working with vulnerable people. In England, this support will be provided through the National Lottery Community Fund. More details of the funding criteria and application process will be released in the coming days via the National Community Lottery Fund. £60m of the funding will be allocated through the Barnett formula so the devolved administrations are funded to provide similar support in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. DCMS always strives to engage with and represent all British people in its work, including those from ethnic minority backgrounds.A further £360m will be distributed between Government departments to provide targeted support to the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector. This funding will not be allocated via an open bid but will be awarded in line with agreed departmental priorities, with the first £76m going towards supporting survivors of domestic abuse, sexual violence, vulnerable children and their families and victims of modern slavery announced on 02 May.As part of this, MHCLG launched a £10m ‘Domestic abuse safe accommodation: COVID-19 emergency support fund’ for charities providing safe accommodation for domestic abuse victims to bid directly into (attached) (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/domestic-abuse-safe-accommodation-covid-19-emergency-support-fund). This includes charities that provide specialist services such as those dedicated to supporting BAME victims. The deadline for charities to put forward an application is Thursday 21 May.Departments, including MHCLG, continue to work at pace to ensure this funding reaches the areas of greatest need as quickly as possible, with the aim for our key partners to receive money in the coming weeks.In addition, for 2020/2021, MHCLG has launched a new competitive grant scheme, with a budget of up to £2m for established community organisations and charities to carry out projects that promote shared values and integration, whilst tackling the harmful behaviours which lead to religiously and racially motivated hate crime. We welcome proposals from projects supporting the BAME community and Muslim women.The Home Offices’ Building a Stronger Britain Together programme is also continuing to support BAME communities and Muslim women’s organisations within its network. These civil society organisations work within communities to tackle all forms of extremism; support victims of extremism and hate crime, as well as challenging the divisive, extremist narratives targeting minority communities. Preparations for 2020/21 delivery of the BSBT programme are currently underway. The programme uses robust grant standards to ensure our funding delivers the greatest impact for these organisations in tackling extremism issues.



Prospectus
(PDF Document, 428.29 KB)

Voluntary Organisations: Coronavirus

lord hunt of kings heath: To ask Her Majesty's Government what guidancethey have given to local resilience forums about engagement with voluntary organisations in response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: The role of the voluntary sector in supporting the preparation, response and recovery from emergencies is set out in Chapter 14 of the Cabinet Office’s publication on Emergency Preparedness. Local Resilience Forums (LRFs) have well established structures in place to work with voluntary sector organisations and we expect them to do so.To support their work, Government published advice on how the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector can safely and effectively support the country through Covid-19. Furthermore, we announced a £750 million package of support for charities to ensure they can continue their vital work during the Covid-19 outbreak.

Second Homes: Council Tax

lord beecham: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Lord Greenhalgh on 11 May (HL3496), whether they will now answer the question put, namely, what estimate they have made of the number of properties in which second home owners falsely claim to live to avoid council tax.

lord greenhalgh: The Government has undertaken no such estimate since second homes are liable for council tax, subject to any discounts which the council may apply locally, irrespective of whether they are occupied or not. 95% of properties that are classed as second homes are charged the full rate of council tax.

Planning Permission: Coronavirus

lord lansley: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they have to allow local authorities to extend the validity of all planning permissions for an additional six months or more as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord greenhalgh: The Government is aware from both local planning authorities and the development industry that, with delays caused by COVID-19, there is a risk of unimplemented planning permissions lapsing, undermining the delivery of projects. We recognise these concerns and we are considering whether permissions should be extended.

Ministry of Defence

Military Aid: Coronavirus

lord campbell of pittenweem: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Armed Forces personnel have been deployed to support activities related to the COVID-19 pandemic, broken down by service.

baroness goldie: As of 11 May 2020, the breakdown by single Service of personnel currently deployed to support the Government’s response to COVID-19 is as follows: Navy180Army3,505Air154

HMS Dasher

lord west of spithead: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer by Baroness Goldie on 5 May (HL3163), whether only 23 servicemen out of the 379 servicemen lost on board HMS Dasher when it sank on 27 March 1943 were recovered from the sea.

baroness goldie: Records show that, of the servicemen tragically lost on board HMS DASHER when she sank on 27 March 1943, 22 were recovered from the sea and a further serviceman who was recovered alive subsequently succumbed to his injuries.

Intensive Care: Hospitals

lord moonie: To ask Her Majesty's Government how many Armed Forces personnel have been deployed in the creation of the NHS Nightingale Hospitals.

baroness goldie: The Ministry of Defence has supported the NHS in several ways. This has included a significant contribution to the opening of the Nightingale Hospitals as a measure to ensure the NHS can meet the challenges of the Covid-19 pandemic. Over the course of the past three months, Defence has deployed over 500 military personnel to support the design and build of these temporary hospitals, providing infrastructure, logistics and project management advice.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits

baroness lister of burtersett: To ask Her Majesty's Government how longthey estimate it willtake to implement an increase in social security legacy benefits.

baroness stedman-scott: The Department has no plans to uplift Jobseeker’s Allowance, Employment and Support Allowance or Income Support.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Fisheries

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is their latest estimate of the timetable for the conclusion of negotiations with the EU onfisheries.

baroness jones of whitchurch: To ask Her Majesty's Government when they intend to update Parliament on the progress of the talks with the EU on fishing access to UK coastal waters.

lord gardiner of kimble: Negotiations on a potential future fisheries agreement are ongoing after a brief pause due to the Covid-19 outbreak. The UK and EU have committed to use best endeavours to agree a new fisheries framework agreement by 1 July this year.As negotiations progress the government will ensure that Parliament is kept updated.

Roads: Fly-tipping

lord patten: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of whether the amount of fly tipping on or near roads has increased during the last 12 months and, if so, by how much.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: The Government publishes annual fly-tipping statistics for England around November for the preceding financial year. As such, the Government has not yet been able to assess whether the amount of fly-tipping on or near roads has increased during the last 12 months. The most recently published statistics indicated that, as with previous years, the most common place for fly-tipping to occur was on highways (pavements and roads), which accounted for 46% of total incidents in 2018/19. This is an increase of 6% from 2017/18. The fly-tipping statistics are available at:https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/fly-tipping-in-england

Animal Welfare and Zoos: Coronavirus

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what support they are providing to (1) zoos, and (2) animal welfare organisations, to enable animals to continue to be looked after throughout the COVID-19 pandemic; and whether furloughed staff from these organisations are still able to provide support to animals on their premises.

lord goldsmith of richmond park: We recognise that zoos and other animal welfare organisations are undertaking very valuable work at this time to ensure that the health and welfare needs of the diverse range of animals they care for are well met.The Government has provided a package of temporary, timely and targeted measures to support businesses, including zoos and other animal welfare organisations, through this period of disruption caused by COVID-19. They are eligible to apply for a range of support schemes including the Job Retention Scheme, VAT deferral, Business Rates Relief, the Business Interruption Loan schemes, the option to reclaim the costs of Statutory Sick Pay and grant funding of up to £25,000.In addition, specifically for zoos in severe financial distress, the Government has introduced a Zoos Support Fund for licensed zoos in England. Similar support will be provided by the Devolved Administrations. Where a zoo in England is in severe financial distress and has fully explored and exhausted all other reasonable avenues to generate income and reduce costs, then they can apply for this fund. Defra has already written to all licensed zoos in England to make them aware of the COVID-19 support schemes available as well as the new Zoo Support Fund. More information can be found at https://www.gov.uk/guidance/coronavirus-covid-19-support-for-zoos-and-aquariumsWe are in discussion with the animal welfare sector about the issue of support for the organisations working with companion animals and to understand the severe impacts on the sector and their needs.Defra officials have also been engaging with some of the largest zoos to discuss additional concerns which are arising including over a longer time frame, and active consideration of these is ongoing.Government guidance states that individuals who are furloughed can volunteer for any organisation that is not their employer.

Home Office

Asylum: Nutrition

baroness bennett of manor castle: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether meals provided for asylum seekers in temporary accommodation must meet the guidelines set out in the NHS Eatwell Guide.

baroness williams of trafford: Meals provided in all catered asylum accommodation facilities meet the NHS Eatwell guide.

NHS: Migrant Workers

the lord bishop of london: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that any (1) NHS employee, and (2) agency worker engaged by the NHS, during the COVID-19 pandemic who is currently on (a) a Tier 5 Temporary Worker - Government Authorised Exchange visa, or (b) a family visa, have the right to remain in the UK. [T]

baroness williams of trafford: The Government has announced we will extend the visas for a range of healthcare professionals working for the NHS and independent health and care providers, where their current visa expires before 1 October. This offer also applies to their families. The 12-month extension is automatic and free of charge and those benefitting will not have to pay the Immigration Health Surcharge. Details of immigration changes, including the extended list of healthcare professionals covered by this offer, relating to COVID-19 can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/coronavirus-covid-19-immigration-and-borders.Those in the UK with leave on long term basis can also extend their stay in-country and can continue to apply online.  Where an online application is made before leave expires, a person’s leave and conditions are automatically extended by virtue of Section 3C of the 1971 Immigration Act until the application can be decided.

Cabinet Office

Constituencies

lord rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the timetable for the next parliamentary boundary reorganisation process under the 2011 Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act; what is the estimated cost for completing the work to be undertaken by the four Boundary Commissions under present legislation; and what plans they have to suspend the process.

lord rennard: To ask Her Majesty's Government on what basisthey will consult on changes to the legislative rules applied to the Boundary Commission processesin the light of their intentionto retain the number of MPs at 650; and what assessment they have made of the recommendations of the eighth report of the Political and Constitutional Reform Committee What next on the redrawing of parliamentary constituency boundaries? (HC600), published on 15 March 2015.

lord true: Under existing legislation (Parliamentary Constituencies Act 1986 as amended by Parliamentary Voting System and Constituencies Act 2011), the next UK parliamentary boundary review is due to begin in early 2021 and to be completed before 1 October 2023.The annual expenditure of the Boundary Commissions for England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland is, under current legislation, published in their respective annual reports which are available on their individual websites.The Government’s plans with respect to UK parliamentary constituencies and boundary reviews were set out in a written statement of 24 March, ‘Update: Strengthening Democracy’ (HLWS179). The Government introduced primary legislation to set the framework of future boundary reviews, including the next review due to begin in early 2021, on 19 May.The Government has engaged with stakeholders, including the political parties represented in the UK Parliament on its proposals, and taken into account reports made by the former Political and Constitutional Reform Committee and the Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee and representations made by Members of the House.

Treasury

Self-employed: Government Assistance

the earl of clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what financial support is available for people who are newly self-employed in the 2019-20 tax year, and what consideration they have given to allowing these individuals to access the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government recognises that those who started trading more recently will not have submitted a tax return for the 2018-19 tax year, and it considered alternative approaches. HMRC would not be able to distinguish genuine self-employed individuals who started trading in 2019-20 from fake applications by fraudulent operators and organised criminal gangs seeking to exploit the SEISS. However, those who entered self-employment after April 2019 may still be eligible for other support. For example, the self-employed can benefit from the Government’s relaxation of the earnings rules (known as the Minimum Income Floor) in Universal Credit.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

the earl of clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what consideration they have given to extending the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to those who operate a limited company and take dividends as a source of income.

lord agnew of oulton: Income from dividends is a return on investment in the company, rather than wages, and is not eligible for support. Under current reporting mechanisms it is not possible for HM Revenue and Customs to distinguish between dividends derived from an individual’s own company and dividends from other sources, and between dividends in lieu of employment income and as returns from other corporate activity. Expanding the scope would require HMRC to collect and verify new information. This would take longer to deliver and put at risk the other schemes which the Government is committed to delivering as quickly as possible. However, those who pay themselves a salary through their own company may instead be eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS). The CJRS is available to employers, including personal service companies, and individuals paying themselves a salary through a PAYE scheme are eligible. For clarity, dividends are not covered by the CJRS. Individuals who are not eligible for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme may have access to other support which the Government is providing, including the Bounce Back Loans Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available on gov.uk.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure employers follow their guidance that atypical workers on PAYE, including agency workers, individuals on zero-hours contracts, and casual workers, are eligible to be furloughed under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; and whether they intend to send communications to employers encouraging them to do so.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government encourages all firms affected by coronavirus to treat their employees fairly and carefully. The scheme is already helping firms keep millions of people in employment by covering most wage costs. While there is no obligation for employers to take up the scheme, the scheme is open to all UK employers provided they have a PAYE scheme registered on HMRC’s real time information system for PAYE on 19 March 2020; enrolled for PAYE online; and have a UK bank account. HMRC must also have received an RTI submission notifying payment in respect of that employee on or before 19 March 2020. Employers can claim for employees on any type of employment contract, including full-time, part-time, agency, flexible or zero-hour contracts. Those not eligible for the scheme may have access to other support which the Government is providing, including a package of temporary welfare measures and up to three months’ mortgage payment holidays for those who may be in difficulty with their mortgage payments.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme: Voluntary Work

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government why they have prohibited furloughed employees to continue working or volunteering for the organisation they have been furloughed from under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme; and what assessment they have made of the potential merits of financial measures adopted by governments in other countries, includingthe (1) Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy, and (2) Australian JobKeeper Payment, that allow furloughed employees to continue working for their businesses.

lord agnew of oulton: The purpose of the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) is to support people who would otherwise have been made redundant. To prevent fraudulent claims, the Government made it clear that individuals cannot work or volunteer for their organisation.This aims to protect individuals too; if workers were allowed to volunteer or work for their employer, the employer could ask them to work in an effectively full time way while only paying 80% of the wages. Individuals are permitted to work for another employer, undertake training or volunteer subject to public health guidance, and the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is working with other government departments and the voluntary, community and social enterprise sector to identify areas where volunteers can contribute to the COVID-19 response. The Government is closely monitoring other international employment protection schemes, and is engaging with other governments to inform the decision-making process for the CJRS.

Self-employment Income Support Scheme

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the potential negative impact on graduates, and individuals who have been on sick leave or maternity leave, caused by the policy of offering self-employed individuals a grant through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme based on the average monthly self-employed profit from the last three tax; and whether they will introduce special circumstances that allow individuals to discount these years when calculating average profits to better reflect their current position.

lord agnew of oulton: Claiming Maternity Allowance or taking parental/sickness leave does not mean that the trade has ceased and therefore should not affect a person’s eligibility for Self-Employment Income Support Scheme, as long as the individual intends to return to the trade after maternity/paternity/adoption leave. Anyone who submitted a tax return in 2018/19, and meets the eligibility criteria, will be eligible for the SEISS. The Government recognises that some people may not have submitted a 2018/19 return for a range of reasons, including due to parental/sickness leave or entering the labour market as a new graduate.The Chancellor has indicated that delivering a scheme for the self-employed is a very difficult operational challenge, particularly in the time available. It is not possible for HMRC to know the reasons why an individual’s profits may have dropped in earlier years from income tax self-assessment returns. However, to help those with volatile income in 2018/19, HMRC can determine an individual’s eligibility on either their profits in 2018-19, or on an average between 2016-17 to 2018-19.

Government Assistance: Coronavirus

lord black of brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what is the justification for the cap on trading profits in order to access the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme to be set at £50,000 when there is no cap on earnings in the eligibility criteria for the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.

lord agnew of oulton: The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS) and Self-Employment Income Support Scheme (SEISS) are different schemes. The CJRS is designed to prevent businesses laying off staff. The SEISS is designed to support the living standards of the self-employed. The SEISS, including the £50,000 threshold, is designed to target those who need it most and who are most reliant on their self-employment income. The self-employed are a very diverse population. They have a wide mix of turnover and profits, with monthly and annual variations even in normal times. The self-employed can also offset losses against profits in other years and other forms of income. Some may see their profits unaffected by the current situation, while others will have substantial alternative forms of income. For example, those who had more than £50,000 from self-employment profits in 2017-18 had an average total income of more than £200,000. In addition, the self-employed can continue to work and remain eligible for the taxable grant as long as they meet the other criteria, including their trade being adversely affected as a result of COVID-19. Those with average profits above £50,000 may still benefit from other support. Individuals may have access to a range of grants and loans depending on their circumstances. The SEISS supplements the significant support already announced for UK businesses, including the Bounce Back Loan Scheme for small businesses, the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan Scheme, and the deferral of tax payments. More information about the full range of business support measures is available on GOV.UK.

Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government for how long they plan to keep the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme grant at a rate that covers 80 per cent of wage costs and what plans they have, if any, to lower that rate.

lord agnew of oulton: The Government has extended the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme until October 2020. Extending the scheme in its current form until July will provide workers, businesses and the economy with clarity on this vital support. After July, the Government will introduce more flexibility to the furlough scheme in a measured way that protects people’s incomes and helps support furloughed employees as they return to work. From August through to the end of October, employers currently using the scheme will have more flexibility to bring their furloughed employees back to work part-time while still receiving support from the scheme. Employers using the scheme will start contributing some of the costs of their workers’ salaries, substituting in part the contribution that the Government is currently making. The Government will outline more details of how this will work by the end of May.

Government Assistance: Coronavirus

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the number of weeks they can continue to fund the financial support schemes for individuals and businesses that have been put in place as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic.

lord agnew of oulton: The government has announced unprecedented support for public services, business and workers to protect against the current economic emergency. Our economic response is one of the most generous and comprehensive globally. The Office for Budget Responsibility note that the measures taken should help limit the long-term damage to the economy and public finances – and the costs of inaction would have been higher. Precise costs will depend on a range of factors including the impact of the crisis on the wider economy and the level of take-up for each scheme. However, it is clear that the impact on the economy and the government's necessary response will lead to an increase in borrowing in the short-term. The government intends to finance the additional borrowing through its normal debt management operations. HM Treasury, the Debt Management Office and the Bank of England are cooperating closely to support the orderly functioning of the gilt and sterling money markets

Public Sector Debt:: Coronavirus

lord jones of cheltenham: To ask Her Majesty's Government when theyexpect to begin addressing the increase in national debt that has occurred as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, and what assessment they have made of the measures that will be needed.

lord agnew of oulton: The work of the last ten years in bringing borrowing and debt back under control has ensured that the public finances are well placed to deal with the challenges posed by COVID-19. However, it is clear that the impact of COVID-19 on the economy and the government's necessary response to it will lead to an increase in borrowing and debt this year.The government has provided a comprehensive policy package to do whatever it takes to support businesses, households and our vital public services through this difficult period. Not taking these steps would result in the temporary effects of COVID-19 permanently damaging our economy, which would weaken the fiscal position over the longer-term; as the independent Office for Budget Responsibility have said, “the costs of inaction would certainly have been higher.”

VAT

lord marlesford: To ask Her Majesty's Government what has been the net income to HM Treasury from VAT in each of the last 12 months.

lord agnew of oulton: Monthly Net VAT receipts for the period April 2019 to March 2020 are as follows: MonthNet VAT (£millions)April 201913,041May 201910,994June 20198,118July 201913,640August 201912,446September 20198,254October 201913,578November 201913,031December 20197,622January 202014,476February 202012,585March 20202,352 Net VAT is the total of Home VAT and Import VAT. Figures are given to the nearest £1 million.

Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport

Sports: Coronavirus

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they will publish a list of supported schemes made available during the COVID-19 lockdown,whether mandatory or discretionary in nature, to assist such bodies as community amateur and other amateur sports clubs and groups that own or maintain their own facilities.

lord addington: To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they plan to produce a guide for community amateur sports clubs and other amateur sports clubs about how to access any support schemes run by central or local government, or endorsed by them.

baroness barran: The Government has announced an unprecedented support package for sports clubs and other organisations affected by Covid-19, including the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme and Business Interruption loan scheme. Full details of Government guidance and support for organisations including community amateur sports clubs can be found on the Gov.UK website. In addition, Sport England have also announced a support package of £210m for the grassroots sport sector. Full details can be found on their website.

Arts: Coronavirus

lord kennedy of southwark: To ask Her Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to support innovation, and research and development, in the creative sector during the COVID-19 pandemic.

baroness barran: This Government recognises the significant contribution that the creative industries make to innovation and research and development. That is why, as part of the Government’s Creative Industries Council, chaired by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport and the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, there is a specific working group that focuses on this issue. Ministers have been in regular contact with the Creative Industries Council during the COVID-19 pandemic.In addition, on 6th May, the Government’s Arts and Humanities Research Council announced a major new campaign ‘Boundless Creativity’, backed by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. This campaign will pioneer new ways in which culture can thrive in a digital age by working with the UK’s leading arts organisations and creative businesses to create ambitious and ground-breaking projects to speed up the development of new and exciting ways of engaging, entertaining and educating audiences, not just in the UK, but around the globe.

National Lottery: Tickets

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what were the total sales of National Lottery tickets for the months of (1) January, (2) February, (3) March and (4) April 2020.

baroness barran: Camelot is the current operator of the National Lottery. They release sales information under a timetable and format agreed with its regulator, the Gambling Commission. Data on sales is published on the Camelot website three months in arrears and this can be found at; http://www.camelotgroup.co.uk/about-us/reporting Sales for the months of January and February were as follows: MonthSales (£m)January614.8February594.3 The March 2020 sales data will be published alongside Camelot's 2019/20 year-end sales announcement in early June and the April 2020 sales data will be published later in June.

Olympic and Paralympic Games 2021

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government, further to the reply by Baroness Barran on 28 April (HL Deb, col 176) that the forthcoming spending review will address the budget needs for the Olympic programmes, what information they will give to potential Olympic and Paralympic athletes as to whether existing their training and racing programmes will be extended until the 2021 Tokyo Olympic Games, in the event that the spending review is delayed until the autumn.

baroness barran: We know this is a challenging period for all sports and we continue to work closely with the whole sector to understand the issues they face and how we can best support them through this difficult time. The Comprehensive Spending Review has been delayed from July to later this year to ensure that HM Treasury and departments can remain focused on responding to the immediate public health and economic emergency. Further details about the next spending review will be set out in due course. It will follow significant investment the government announced through both Budget 2020 and Spending Round 2019, and will take into account the government’s response to COVID-19. We remain committed to supporting our elite athletes and the current UK Sport settlement goes through till April 2021. My department is working to ensure that we have a strong evidence-base with which to support the Chancellor ahead of the Spending Review.

Olympic and Paralympic Games 2021

lord moynihan: To ask Her Majesty's Government what plans they haveto provide testing and tracing opportunities at an early opportunity for those either selected or shortlisted to compete for Great Britain and Northern Ireland at the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2021.

baroness barran: The government is holding weekly meetings with senior medical officials and sport representatives to discuss key issues around COVID-19, and is communicating regularly with stakeholders across the sporting sector to share the latest advice. We will maintain these discussions as plans to restart training and competition within elite sport are developed. Olympic and Paralympic sport is not immune from the impact of Covid-19 and we will continue to work with UK Sport in ensuring that our athletes are well supported in this difficult period. We have now published step one guidance on the return to training for elite sport which sets out the minimum operating expectations of an elite training environment, and has been developed in close consultation with the Deputy Chief Medical Officers of England, Public Health England and medical representatives across Olympic, Paralympic and professional sports governing bodies.

Arts: Coronavirus

the earl of clancarty: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the proportion of (1) individuals and (2) organisations working in the creative industries who will be eligible for the emergency funding being made available by Arts Council England in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, including through the funding being provided to National Portfolio Organisations and Creative People and Places lead organisations.

baroness barran: While the Government has not made a specific assessment of the proportion of professionals working in the creative industries that are eligible, it has worked with the Arts Council to ensure that the application process was as simple as possible and to encourage as many applications as possible. So long as an applicant has experience of delivering publicly funded work, and fits the Arts Council’s definition of ‘creative practitioner’ (writers, translators, producers, editors, educators, directors and designers in the disciplines and artforms they support, as well as choreographers, composers, visual artists, craft makers and curators), they are eligible. The Arts Council received a total of 13,684 applications from independent cultural organisations and individual practitioners to the first two elements of their Emergency Response funds. In detail, this breaks down to 3,391 applications from organisations and 10,293 applications from individuals. The Arts Council will be publishing the details of how they have awarded this funding at the beginning of June, once all the decisions have been made and applicants notified.The third element of their Emergency Response funds, for National Portfolio Organisations and Creative People and Places lead organisations, closes on 19 May. All of the Arts Council’s 840 National Portfolio Organisations and 30 Creative People and Places lead organisations were eligible to apply to that fund. The Arts Council will be publishing details of how they’ve awarded this funding at the beginning of July.

International Transport: Europe

lord bowness: To ask Her Majesty's Government what discussionsthey have had, and planto have, with tourism ministers in theEU and other European countries to cooperate and coordinate plans to open travel between countries in Europe

baroness barran: The Minister for Tourism discussed the recovery and lifting of travel restrictions with ministers from several European countries and the European Commission at the recent Extraordinary G20 Tourism Ministers’ Meeting on COVID-19. We will work closely with foreign governments to help the global tourism industry recover from the current crisis. Officials in my Department are also in regular contact with the OECD and World Travel and Tourism Council. We continue to share information about the UK’s response to COVID-19.